UNION GOVERNMENT HAS FORCED THE STATE TO LEVY PROPERTY TAX – CM
ASSAILS CENTER FOR PUTTING RIDERS ON CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEMES
CHINTAN SHIVIR AT GOA AN INTERNAL MATTER OF PARTY
FOURTH DAY OF SANGAT DARSHAN AT MOGA ASSEMBLY SEGMENT
Singhanwala (Moga), April 2-
Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said that due to the sanctions imposed by the Union government the state government has been forced to levy the property tax in the urban areas of the stateTalking to the media persons on the sidelines of the fourth day of his Sangat Darshan program here today, the Chief Minister categorically said that the Union government has imposed riders including that of Property tax on the state government for seeking the grants of the urban development due to which they have been forced to implement this tax in the state. He said that not only Punjab but this tax has been implemented in the entire country on the directions of the Union government. Taking strong exception to the hue and cry made by the Congress leaders on this issue, Mr Badal said that rather than politicizing this issue the state Congress leaders must appeal their high command to refrain from thrusting these anti-people policies on the states. “We are left with no other alternative rather than succumbing to the pressure of center to resort to these taxes unwillingly”, he added.Replying to a query regarding the criticism being leveled by the Congress leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for holding its Chintan Shivir in Goa, the Chief Minister termed it as an internal matter of the party. He said that every political party including the Congress holds such shivirs across the country so what was the harm in holding this shivir at Goa. He slammed the Congress for blowing this issue out of proportion just to cover up their internal wrangling which was the order of the day. Mr Badal advised the Congress leadership not to lose their cool especially in the wake of their frustration, which was well understood as they had hardly any political agenda to register their existence in the state polity.Earlier in his address during the Sangat Darshan program in villages Dhaleke, Landeke, Sant Nagar, Mahima Singh Wala, Budh Singh Wala, Tare Wala, Nahal Khote and Singhaan wala, the Chief Minister categorically said that any discrepancy in the works approved during this Sangat Darshan program would not be tolerated at any cost and any official found responsible for such laxity would not be spared. Exhorting the people to be an integral part of government developmental activity, he said they should personally monitor the government developmental works being executed in their jurisdiction with utmost care and caution as the state government was already laying emphasis on the concept of inclusive growth thereby ensuring the common man’s participation in its policies and programs.Meanwhile during the Sangat Darshan the Chief Minister disbursed grants worth Rs 1.10 crore for the development of these villages. During Sangat Darshan at village Sant Nagar a blind girl Miss Sandeep Kaur presented a handmade portrait of Chief Minister to him. She also urged Mr Badal that as her economic position was very weak so she was not able to pursue her higher studies after 10+2. On her request the Chief Minister immediately announced that the state government would bear all the expenses of her higher education and asked his Special Principal Secretary Mr KJS Cheema to get the matter expedited.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Jathedar Ajit Singh Kohar, Lok Sabha MP Mrs Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan, MLAs Jathedar Tota Singh and Mr Joginder Pal Jain, senior Akali leader and former DGP Mr PS Gill, former MLA Jathedar Ujagar Singh Wadali, Akali leader Mr Sant Singh Brar, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr KJS Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Mr Arshdeep Singh Thind.
