SUKHBIR SEEKS SPECIAL PACKAGE UNDER BADP

Chandigarh, July 26
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal and SAD-BJP nominee for Jalalabad Assembly by-election today sought special package from Union Home Ministry for launching a concerted development program in the areas in the vicinity of Indo-Pak international border in Punjab.
Speaking in various rallies at border villages of Jalalabad constituency, Mr. Badal said that even after 62 years of independence border areas of Punjab remained underdeveloped due to repeated wars with neighboring countries and farmers of border region of Punjab have bore the maximum burnt. He said that even now most of the farmers whose land falls beyond fencing can not go to their fields in the evening. He said that repeated exercises of BSF, moment of heavy machinery in the border region damage the fragile link roads in the border villages and also the crops of the farmers. He said that despite repeated demands of Punjab government, Union government was not enhancing funds for the development of border region under Border Area Development Program.
Describing Punjab as sword arm of the nation, Mr. Badal said that Punjab that suffered maximum damage during the Indo-Pak wars deserved the special industrial as well as development package especially for development of border region of Punjab. He said that Union government must sanction big public sector manufacturing units in border area of Punjab which besides providing employment to skilled youth of border region, would also restore confidence of entrepreneurs to setup industrial units in the border area of Punjab.

Demanding Industrial package at par with neighboring hill states, Mr. Badal said that Punjab’s industry that suffered maximum damage due to repeated wars and decade long militancy needed a helping hand to compete in domestic as well as export market. He hoped that Congress MPs rising above party line would raise collective voice with SAD-BJP MPs seeking special industrial as well as development package for border areas of Punjab.
Mr. Badal said that Congress has always betrayed the people of border region and it was SAD-BJP government that gave proprietary rights to the tillers during last tenure and remaining farmers would get ownership rights very soon. He said that our government has already started the massive task of computerizing revenue record and soon farmers would be able to get copy of their ‘Fard’ from nearest cyber café at the push of a button.