INCREASING ACTIVITY OF UNION GOVERNMENT INDICATIVE OF ITS EARLY END- SUKHBIR

v    INDUCTS FORMER CONGRESS MLA MANGAT RAI BANSAL IN SAD FOLD

v    NDA SET TO FORM NEXT GOVERNMENT

v    PEOPLE ITCHING TO DECIMATE CONGRESS FROM NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE

v    3^RD FRONT NOT ON POLITICAL HORIZON IN NEXT LOK SABHA ELECTIONS

v    DENIAL OF DROUGHT RELIEF REFLECTS ANTI-PUNJAB ATTITUDE OF CONGRESS LED UPA

Mansa, September 25: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that increasing political and legislative frenzy in UPA-II was indicative of its early and premature end.

 Talking to media persons after inducting Mr. Mangat Rai Bansal a former Congress MLA from Budhlada along with his thousands of supporters in SAD fold, Mr. Badal said that Congress party was jittery as it knows that its days in power were numbered and they knew that people have made up their mind to kick them out of power. “It was behaving like a lamp that burns brightly before getting blown out in dark”, Sukhbir quipped.

Mr. Badal said that minority UPA government has no right to take any major policy decision as it has lost right to govern the country. Indicating early elections in the country, Mr. Badal said that heightened activity, increasing nervousness, depleting numbers in Lok Sabha, restiveness of so called allies and fear of being branded anti-people of being associated with Congress party, collectively indicates towards early demise of Congress led UPA-II.

 Lashing at Congress led UPA government for ignoring the claim of Rs.5112 crore drought relief for the Punjab farmers, Mr. Badal said that even the final figures of monsoon released by meteorological department pointed out that Punjab was the worst sufferer of the drought and delayed rains and rain deficiency in Punjab was 42%, maximum in the country. Mr. Badal said that denying drought relief to a state that had maximum rain deficiency reflected anti-Punjab and discriminatory attitude of Congress led UPA government. He questioned the criminal silence of Capt. Amarinder Singh, PPCC President on this grave injustice to Punjab that affected 80% population of the state.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that issue of FDI in multi brand retail products was a very important issue as there were number of stake holders. He said that the Congress led UPA government should have taken into confidence all stake holders before taking this important decision.

 Mr. Badal parried the question regarding expansion of Punjab Ministry saying that it was the prerogative of Chief Minister.

Welcoming former Congress MLA Mr. Mangat Rai Bansal in a mammoth gathering, Mr. Badal said that all mass based leaders in Congress party are deserting the sinking ship of Congress party and joining pro-people pro poor mass based Shiromani Akali Dal. He said that people of Punjab should expect more honest and mass based leaders joining SAD in next few days.   

Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP government has finalized a Rs.8750 crore urban renewal package to upgrade the basic infrastructure of all 142 major cities and towns of the state with special emphasis on providing 100% potable drinking water and sewerage coverage. Similarly, a Rs.10000 crore programme was being launched to initiate on an average Rs.100 crore development works in each constituency and the main focus would be laying of concrete lanes, provision of sewerage in rural areas besides cleaning the village ponds to improve the environment. He said that a special irrigation project would be initiated soon in Mansa as well as Bathinda districts to ensure sufficient water on the tails of channels to meet the drinking as well as irrigation needs of the people.

He said that next 4 years were very important for the state as it would witness the completion of all development works being undertaken to ensure the overall development of the state. He said that a special programme was already going on to provide 4/6 lane link to every city and town of the state. He said that residents of Mansa district would be presented a special gift on Baisakhi 2013 as Talwandi Sabo thermal plant was all set to start it first unit on that day . He said that with completion of all three Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura and Goindwal thermal plants Punjab would be the first power surplus state of the country.

He said that the state government was in the process of identifying 300 acres of land near Bathinda to set up an education hub as with the setting up of Central University, Institute of Hotel Management and a sports school at Ghuda, this region was set to emerge on the national education map. He said that top class education institutes would be invited to set up their campus in the proposed edu-city.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Mangat Rai Bansal said that he was feeling relieved to say good bye to a party that does not recognize its sincere and honest leaders who are forced to beg before members of cronies of Amarinder.

Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhundar, MP, Mr. Prem Mittal and Mr. Chatin Singh Samaon, both MLAs, Mr. Harbant Singh Harta and Mr. Sukhwinder Singh Biroke, both Ex-MLAs, Mr. Deepinder Singh Dhillon and Mr. Charanjit Singh Brar