Punjab CM bats for more power to states

Bal Kalan (Amritsar), October 4, 2014: Batting for more powers to the states for progress of the country
and prosperity of its people, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal today said that the genuine Federal structure was the ‘panacea of all
the ills’ confronted by the country.
Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of the first day of
Sangat Darshan in Attari assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister
reiterated that the states needs to be given more powers for ensuring
comprehensive development of the country besides checking the growing trend
of regional imbalance. He said that as a matter of fact only the state
governments were accountable to the people for every work but unfortunately
all the powers regarding the formulation and execution of the policies was
vested by the Union government, which was hampering the overall development
of the country. Badal said that in such a scenario the only ray of hope
for the country and its people was the implementation of genuine federal
structure in the country, as enshrined in our constitution.
When asked to comment on the issue of blacklist of Indian Nationals, many
of whom were Punjabis, maintained by the Government of India (GoI), the
Chief Minister said that he has already urged the Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to evolve a mechanism
for regular review of all such cases from time to time. He said that the
GoI has already been requested to remove the names of persons from list
against whom there were no cases or legal proceedings pending against them.
Badal said that if needed he would personally pursue this matter again
with the Prime Minister in coming days.
The Chief Minister said that he would also take over the issue of Sikh
prisoners languishing in the jails of other states even after the
completion of their sentence, with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Badal said that he had been repeatedly pursuing this matter with the
Union government from time to time and once again he would seek the
intervention of the GoI on this matter.
On another query, the Chief Minister said that after assuming the power the
BJP led NDA Government at centre was in the process of framing the policies
for development of the states, after which Punjab would get its due share
in the central grants. He expressed hope that the Modi Government at the
Centre would play a vanguard role in ushering in an era of unprecedented
development in the state. Badal categorically said that Punjab would be
immensely benefitted from the NDA government at the centre.
Replying to another question regarding the Punjabis trapped in the strife
torn Iraq, the Chief Minister said that he had raised this issue with the
Ministry of External Affairs and even with the Special envoy of India in
Iraq, to ensure the safe and prompt release of these sons of the soil. He
said that the GoI was making all out efforts for the safety of Punjabis in
Iraq adding that he was hopeful that the efforts of the Union and state
government would fructify. Assuring fulsome support and cooperation to the
distressed families of the Punjabi youths, Badal said that the state
government was duty bound to help them in this hour of crisis.
The Chief Minister further said that the sole motive of Shiromani Akali
Dal’s tie up with Indian National Lok Dal in ensuing Haryana assembly polls
was to defeat the Congress party. He said that this would not have any
bearing on age old ties of SAD-BJP as both the alliance partners were
committed for routing the Congress party out of power from Haryana.
Badal said that the BJP leadership was well aware of the fact that the
SAD-BJP alliance was firm across the country but Haryana was an exception
to it.
Earlier addressing the gathering at villages Pandori Wadaich, Jahangir,
Jethuwal, Fathegarh Shukarchak, Manawaal Kalaan and others, the Chief
Minister said that it was on record that besides giving a major fillip to
the overall development of the state, the Sangat Darshan programs has also
been instrumental in mitigating the woes of common people. He reiterated
that the concept of Sangat Darshan was an integral part of state’s
governance as it virtually brought the government at the doorsteps of
people thereby bridging the communication gap between the masses and the
administration, which normally hindered the process of progress. Badal
further said that besides acting as a catalyst for redressing the
grievances of people, the Sangat Darshan programs were also helpful for the
state government to adjudge the working of officers of the various
departments.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Gulzar Singh
Ranike, SGPC Members Jathedar Gurinder Pal Singh Lally and Jathedar
Magwinder Singh, his Special Principal Secretary Ajoy Kumar Sharma and Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat.
-----------------------------
Readers may send their news/views/feedback to us:
cityairnews@gmail.com