Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on the
historic 75th Independence Day of the country, on Sunday vowed to protect the
border state against the nefarious designs of Pakistan, even as he pledged to
continue fighting with the farmers for the repeal of the Centre’s black Farm
Laws.
Calling for extreme vigil against Pakistan, which
continued to try to foment trouble even 75 years after independence, the Chief
Minister asserted that while “we want Punjab, but will not tolerate any
aggression or attack on our territory.” Addressing the people of Punjab after
unfurling 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 country
to smuggle arms and drugs into the state, Captain Amarinder warned that
Pakistan would not leave any opportunity to take advantage of any vulnerability
in Punjab.
Stressing the need to ensure peace in the state to
promote the development of industry and the progress of its people, the Chief
Minister said his government would not tolerate any threat, including those
from 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.” He
disclosed that since his government took over, 47 Pakistani terrorist modules
and 347 modules of gangsters had been neutralized, including some key gangsters
who had been deported from Armenia, UAE and other countries, with more awaiting
deportation.
Later, interacting informally with some media-persons on
the sidelines of the I-day function, the Chief Minister expressed concern about
the continuing agitation of the farmers and said he had raised the issue
recently during his meetings with the Prime Minister and the Union Home
Minister. He said he demanded the repeal of the Farm Laws, which were
anti-farmer and against the spirit of the Constitution. He made it clear that
he would continue to fight with the farmers for the revocation of these
legislations, and would not let the sacrifices of those who had lost their
lives in this struggle go in vain.
Captain Amarinder Singh said, “The fight against these
Black Laws is not political. It does not matter who is in power where. We need
to stand by what is right and to ensure that our rights under the Constitution
are not crushed. Had some of the other political parties heeded my repeated
implorations in June last year to unitedly articulate our deep concerns before
the 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 about the legal efforts made by his government to get the sacrilege cases back from the CBI, to which the previous SAD-BJP government had handed over the 3 FIRs they had registered, along with another 3 in the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing cases. Since taking over the cases from the CBI, chargesheets have been filed in four cases against 23 persons and 15 police personnel have been suspended while 10 persons have been arrested, he said, adding that 10 challans have been presented so far.
Referring to the gains made by his government in its
fight against the deadly menace of drugs, pointing to the 47,510 cases
registered under the NDPS Act and the
216 ‘big fish’ (caught with 5 kg or more of heroin) arrested so far. More than
7 lakh patients are undergoing treatment as part of the de-addiction programme,
he added.
In the context of the Covid situation, the Chief Minister
spoke about the exemplary service of all medical personnel, while thanking the
people of Punjab for effectively combating the menace. However, he stressed the
need for continued vigil to ensure that the pandemic does not return. The
government was in the process of setting up 5 new medical colleges, besides
upgrading the existing ones, he added.
The Chief Minister expressed pride in the performance of
the 20 boys and girls who had brought laurels to the state in the recently
concluded Tokyo Olympic Games and said besides the cash rewards, government
jobs would be given to all of them. He, however, personally felt all this was
not enough to appreciate their achievements, he added.
On the employment front, the Chief Minister said
62,748 Government Jobs have already
been given, while 7.4 Lakh youth have been facilitated for private jobs and
another 10.9 lakh for self-employment. The process for providing 1 Lakh
Government Jobs is currently underway, he added.
Lauding the hassle-free and record production of wheat and
paddy under his watch, Captain Amarinder thanked all the Farmers, Arhtiyas,
labourers and staff of agencies for helping him realise his promise that every
single grain of the state’s farmers will be procured. He also spoke about the
Rs 4700 crore debt relief given to 5.83 lakh farmers as well as the increase in
Kharaba. Pointing to the power subsidies paid last year to farmers, industry
and SCs/BCs, he reiterated that these would continue till he is ruling the
state.
The Chief Minister also cited the measures taken by his
government for the welfare of Dalits, OBCs and the poor, including hike in
pension and Shagun amount under Ashirward scheme, as well as the re-launch of
the 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 Relief
at a cost of Rs. 52 crore, he added. He further said that a Museum dedicated to
Babasaheb Dr. BR Ambedkar Ji in IKG Gujral Punjab Technical University, along
with an Institute of Management, are being established.
Listing women welfare as another key priority, the Chief
Minister pointed to the reservations provided to them in PRIs & ULBs as
well as government jobs, besides free bus travel, with GPS and Panic Buttons installed in buses for
their safety.
On the welfare of servicemen, he disclosed that 82
next-of-kin of Martyrs have been given jobs in the state government, with
another 15 set to be given jobs soon. This is in addition to the increase in
ex-gratia to the families from Rs 12 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh, he said, adding that
4300 Guardians of Governance are working across the state to ensure that the
benefits of schemes reach the citizens.
Noting that NREGA was a complete failure under the
previous regime, he said that his government had spent Rs. 3820 Crore and
generated 1,165 Lakh man-days under the scheme. He also cited the Smart Village
Campaign and Mission Lal Lakir among other initiatives taken for rural
development. Further, he said that all 35 lakh rural domestic households in the
state are set to be covered with piped tap connections by March 2022.
At the same time, said the Chief Minister, urban
development also continued to be high on his government’s agenda, with
initiatives like the Urban Environment Improvement Programme and Basera for
slums making a difference to the lives of urban people. With 89% urban
population already having access to piped water supply, the entire state shall
be covered by 31st March 2023, he said, adding that canal-based water supply
was now being supplied to major towns.
“Our policies have been greatly appreciated by the people
in the urban areas, which is reflected in the huge mandate given to the
Congress party in the Municipal elections,” he noted, thanking the people for
the same.
Also Read: Punjab CM unfurls Tricolour in Amritsar, confers state awards on 45
Noting that for the first time ever Punjab has been ranked No. 1 in the country in terms of school education, the Chief Minister also listed various measures taken to improve education, not just in schools but also at higher level. While 6 new degree colleges have already commenced classes, 12 are set to start this year and another 25 degree colleges have been sanctioned, he added.
Expressing satisfaction at the fast-paced growth of
Punjab economy from 2018 to 2020, with Rs 93,500 crore of industrial investment
on the ground since April 2017, he expressed the confidence that before
December 2021, this figure will touch Rs. 1 Lakh crore. 55% new Factories have
already started commercial production, he added.
Terming himself to be blessed to be part of the historic
occasions of the 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the 400th
Prakash Purab of Ninth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the Chief Minister
said once the Covid situation improves, the latter will be celebrated as
warranted by the occasion. The 350th Birth Anniversary of Baba Banda Singh
Bahadur Ji also could not be celebrated due to Covid but the state government
will shortly install a statue of the legendary Sikh General in Sirhind, he
said. Terming the closing of Kartarpur
Corridor as a big casualty of the Covid, the Chief Minister again requested the
Government of India to take up the matter for its early opening so that the
Sikh Sangat can have Khulle Darshan Didar.