Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on thehistoric 75th Independence Day of the country, on Sunday vowed to protect theborder state against the nefarious designs of Pakistan, even as he pledged tocontinue fighting with the farmers for the repeal of the Centre’s black FarmLaws.
Calling for extreme vigil against Pakistan, whichcontinued to try to foment trouble even 75 years after independence, the ChiefMinister asserted that while “we want Punjab, but will not tolerate anyaggression or attack on our territory.” Addressing the people of Punjab afterunfurling the national flag, the Chief Minister declared “we will teach them(Pakistan) the lesson of their lifetime if they try to be adventurous.”
Pointing to the use of drones by the neighbouring countryto smuggle arms and drugs into the state, Captain Amarinder warned thatPakistan would not leave any opportunity to take advantage of any vulnerabilityin Punjab.
Stressing the need to ensure peace in the state topromote the development of industry and the progress of its people, the ChiefMinister said his government would not tolerate any threat, including thosefrom gangsters and terrorists. “We will deal with them squarely,” he pledged,adding that “Any threat to Punjab would be a danger to our entire nation.” Hedisclosed that since his government took over, 47 Pakistani terrorist modulesand 347 modules of gangsters had been neutralized, including some key gangsterswho had been deported from Armenia, UAE and other countries, with more awaitingdeportation.
Later, interacting informally with some media-persons onthe sidelines of the I-day function, the Chief Minister expressed concern aboutthe continuing agitation of the farmers and said he had raised the issuerecently during his meetings with the Prime Minister and the Union HomeMinister. He said he demanded the repeal of the Farm Laws, which wereanti-farmer and against the spirit of the Constitution. He made it clear thathe would continue to fight with the farmers for the revocation of theselegislations, and would not let the sacrifices of those who had lost theirlives in this struggle go in vain.
Captain Amarinder Singh said, “The fight against theseBlack Laws is not political. It does not matter who is in power where. We needto stand by what is right and to ensure that our rights under the Constitutionare not crushed. Had some of the other political parties heeded my repeatedimplorations in June last year to unitedly articulate our deep concerns beforethe Centre, this situation might not have arisen.”
Also Read: I-Day celebrations: Punjab CM announces Rs 1200cr for rural link roads, slew of SC welfare projects
In his official address, the Chief Minister spoke aboutthe legal efforts made by his government to get the sacrilege cases back fromthe CBI, to which the previous SAD-BJP government had handed over the 3 FIRsthey had registered, along with another 3 in the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalanfiring cases. Since taking over the cases from the CBI, chargesheets have beenfiled in four cases against 23 persons and 15 police personnel have beensuspended while 10 persons have been arrested, he said, adding that 10 challanshave been presented so far.
Referring to the gains made by his government in itsfight against the deadly menace of drugs, pointing to the 47,510 casesregistered under the NDPS Act and the216 ‘big fish’ (caught with 5 kg or more of heroin) arrested so far. More than7 lakh patients are undergoing treatment as part of the de-addiction programme,he added.
In the context of the Covid situation, the Chief Ministerspoke about the exemplary service of all medical personnel, while thanking thepeople of Punjab for effectively combating the menace. However, he stressed theneed for continued vigil to ensure that the pandemic does not return. Thegovernment was in the process of setting up 5 new medical colleges, besidesupgrading the existing ones, he added.
The Chief Minister expressed pride in the performance ofthe 20 boys and girls who had brought laurels to the state in the recentlyconcluded Tokyo Olympic Games and said besides the cash rewards, governmentjobs would be given to all of them. He, however, personally felt all this wasnot enough to appreciate their achievements, he added.
On the employment front, the Chief Minister said62,748 Government Jobs have alreadybeen given, while 7.4 Lakh youth have been facilitated for private jobs andanother 10.9 lakh for self-employment. The process for providing 1 LakhGovernment Jobs is currently underway, he added.
Lauding the hassle-free and record production of wheat andpaddy under his watch, Captain Amarinder thanked all the Farmers, Arhtiyas,labourers and staff of agencies for helping him realise his promise that everysingle grain of the state’s farmers will be procured. He also spoke about theRs 4700 crore debt relief given to 5.83 lakh farmers as well as the increase inKharaba. Pointing to the power subsidies paid last year to farmers, industryand SCs/BCs, he reiterated that these would continue till he is ruling thestate.
The Chief Minister also cited the measures taken by hisgovernment for the welfare of Dalits, OBCs and the poor, including hike inpension and Shagun amount under Ashirward scheme, as well as the re-launch ofthe SC Post Matric scheme, which the Central Government had abruptly suspended.More than 14,000 loanees of SC and BC Corporation have been given Debt Reliefat a cost of Rs. 52 crore, he added. He further said that a Museum dedicated toBabasaheb Dr. BR Ambedkar Ji in IKG Gujral Punjab Technical University, alongwith an Institute of Management, are being established.
Listing women welfare as another key priority, the ChiefMinister pointed to the reservations provided to them in PRIs & ULBs aswell as government jobs, besides free bus travel, with GPS and Panic Buttons installed in buses fortheir safety.
On the welfare of servicemen, he disclosed that 82next-of-kin of Martyrs have been given jobs in the state government, withanother 15 set to be given jobs soon. This is in addition to the increase inex-gratia to the families from Rs 12 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh, he said, adding that4300 Guardians of Governance are working across the state to ensure that thebenefits of schemes reach the citizens.
Noting that NREGA was a complete failure under theprevious regime, he said that his government had spent Rs. 3820 Crore andgenerated 1,165 Lakh man-days under the scheme. He also cited the Smart VillageCampaign and Mission Lal Lakir among other initiatives taken for ruraldevelopment. Further, he said that all 35 lakh rural domestic households in thestate are set to be covered with piped tap connections by March 2022.
At the same time, said the Chief Minister, urbandevelopment also continued to be high on his government’s agenda, withinitiatives like the Urban Environment Improvement Programme and Basera forslums making a difference to the lives of urban people. With 89% urbanpopulation already having access to piped water supply, the entire state shallbe covered by 31st March 2023, he said, adding that canal-based water supplywas now being supplied to major towns.
“Our policies have been greatly appreciated by the peoplein the urban areas, which is reflected in the huge mandate given to theCongress party in the Municipal elections,” he noted, thanking the people forthe same.
Noting that for the first time ever Punjab has beenranked No. 1 in the country in terms of school education, the Chief Ministeralso listed various measures taken to improve education, not just in schoolsbut also at higher level. While 6 new degree colleges have already commencedclasses, 12 are set to start this year and another 25 degree colleges have beensanctioned, he added.
Expressing satisfaction at the fast-paced growth ofPunjab economy from 2018 to 2020, with Rs 93,500 crore of industrial investmenton the ground since April 2017, he expressed the confidence that beforeDecember 2021, this figure will touch Rs. 1 Lakh crore. 55% new Factories havealready started commercial production, he added.
Terming himself to be blessed to be part of the historicoccasions of the 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the 400thPrakash Purab of Ninth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the Chief Ministersaid once the Covid situation improves, the latter will be celebrated aswarranted by the occasion. The 350th Birth Anniversary of Baba Banda SinghBahadur Ji also could not be celebrated due to Covid but the state governmentwill shortly install a statue of the legendary Sikh General in Sirhind, hesaid. Terming the closing of KartarpurCorridor as a big casualty of the Covid, the Chief Minister again requested theGovernment of India to take up the matter for its early opening so that theSikh Sangat can have Khulle Darshan Didar.