State made record growth during Cong rule: Capt
During my stint as Punjab CM, the deteriorating economy of the state was put on the track again, transparent and corruptionfree recruitment for government jobs was facilitated, real estate business touched new heights. AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab Congress chief
FEROZEPUR/CHANDIGARH: Punjab had surpassed all records of development during the Congress regime from 2002 to 2007. This was stated by former Punjab chief minister and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Captain Amarinder Singh while talking to HT on Wednesday evening after his arrival here for the ‘Kissan Yatra’.
Capt said, “During my stint as Punjab chief minister, the deteriorating economy of the state was re-put on the track, transparent and corruptionfree recruitment for government jobs was facilitated, real estate business touched new heights, the historical Punjab water repatriation Act was approved, and hassle-free procurement of crops was ensured. Good governance resulted in better facilitation of all public services, be it education, medical or any other.”
He added, “We dedicated our five years of rule to public interests, but most ministers in the present Akali-BJP government, led by Parkash Singh Badal, are filling their on own pockets, by patronising land, sand, cable network and drug mafias.”
Sangat darshans are an old concept, as in ancient times, then emperors used to do hold them, but in the present era, they are a sheer wastage of public money, he alleged.
“When the Akalis are ready to offer their so-called surplus power to other states at a rate of ₹3.4 per unit, then why don’t they provide it to the industry in the state at the same rate,” he questioned.He said people living within the radius of 30km along the Indo-Pakistan border must be given subsidies and incentives on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will provide a medical insurance cover of up to ₹3 lakh to every Punjabi after coming to power,” he said.
‘BJP HAS DESERTED SINKING AKALI SHIP’
Terming the growing rift between the BJP and its ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as the proverbial last nail in the Badal regime’s coffin, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday said even the BJP has realised the futility of standing by the Akalis in the run-up to the state assembly elections due early nexy year.
Amarinder said the BJP’s alienation of the SAD was evident in Prime Minister Narendra Modi shunning chief minister Parkash Singh Badal’s pleas for central support to the state during his Ludhiana visit on Tuesday.
“The SAD is nothing more than a sinking ship, which the BJP has clearly decided to desert,” Amarinder said.
He further said that the BJP did not want to drown with the Akalis in the forthcoming assembly polls.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party seemed to have realised that it would be politically suicidal for it to continue to hold Akalis’ hands,” said the Punjab Congress chief, adding that in any case, the alliance between the two parties was never based on principles but was an opportunistic partnership entered for political gains.