Longowal (Sangrur), August 22(Bharat Sandesh)
Terming the malicious campaign of Congress leaders regarding the migration of industry from state as highly misleading, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today dared the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa to prove his claims.Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of the death anniversary function of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal here today, the Chief Minister said that the sole aim of this entire campaign was to tarnish the image of the SAD-BJP government in the state whereas it was on record that the Punjab’s industry has been ruined due to the apathy of the Union government towards this border state. He said that the incentives given by the Union government to many of the hilly states had given a fatal blow to the industry of Punjab but the Congress leaders from the state had hardly uttered any word before their high command. Mr. Badal said that the wise voters of the state were well aware of the dubious character of the Congress leaders and they would not get swayed away by their propaganda.Earlier addressing the massive gathering, the Chief Minister exhorted the people to form the NDA government at the centre to restore the prestige of the country and safeguard its sovereignty. Mr. Badal said that owing to the faulty policies of the Union government the internal and external security of the country was in deep peril due to which the countrymen were suffering. He said that the UPA government has failed on all the fronts and the devaluation of rupee was a testimony to this fact.The Chief Minister further said that the misrule of the UPA government has accentuated the woes of the common man due to which they were waiting for the coming general elections to uproot the Congress from the power at the centre and form the NDA government.Earlier paying floral tributes to Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, the Chief Minister said that he was not only a great Sikh scholar and philosopher but his entire life was an inspiration for the politicians as well as common man. He said that Sant Ji had the distinction of serving the people from all the aspects whether it was religious, social or political. Mr. Badal said that Sant Ji mobilized the people against the anti-Emergency movement and Dharam Yudh Morcha to safeguard the interests of the people.The Chief Minister further said that Sant Ji laid down his life for safeguarding the communal harmony, peace and amity to usher in an era of unprecedented development in Punjab. However he said that then Congress Union government had stabbed Sant Harchand Singh Longowal by not implementing the clauses of Rajeev-Longowal accord, for which the Punjabis could never forgive the Congress. Mr. Badal said that Sant Ji had sacrificed his life for the sake of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was committed for fulfilling his dreams.Castigating the Congress led UPA government at the centre, the Chief Minister bemoaned that the incumbent Union government has made mockery of valuable contribution of the national heroes by denying the martyr status to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, who had laid down their life for the Indian freedom struggle. He said that it was a grave disrespect and injustice to those heroes who had made supreme sacrifices for overthrowing the yoke of foreign imperialism. However, Mr. Badal said that on their part the state government was making stupendous efforts to perpetuate the rich legacy of our freedom fighters by erecting memorials to pay homage to them along with observing the days associated with their lives.The Chief Minister said that the great national heroes had laid down their life for the sake of a country, free from unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and other social maladies but due to wrong policies of Congress their dreams remains unfulfilled. He said that the Congress led UPA government would be remembered as the most corrupt government in the annals of Indian history as almost its entire ministry was neck deep in corruption.The Chief Minister further said that the Union government has ruined the farmers of Punjab, who had exploited the natural resources of its motherland, to ensure food security to the country. He said that due to the ever escalating cost of farming inputs and non-remunerative MSP farming was no longer a profitable preposition. Mr. Badal further said that owing to the wrong policies of the Union government the farmers were reeling under a huge debt of Rs 32000 crore.The Chief Minister said that despite of the fact that Punjabis had made countless sacrifices for the nation, the Congress has always meted out step motherly treatment to Punjab by depriving it of capital, legitimate share in river water and Punjabi speaking areas. He said that the Congress had inflicted deep wound on Sikh psyche by irrelevantly meddling in its social, economic, political and even religious affairs. Mr. Badal said that the Congress could be taught a befitting lesson by forming NDA government at centre in which the Ministers from SAD-BJP alliance would play a pivotal role in further accelerating progress of the stateEarlier addressing the gathering National President of BJP Mr. Rajnath Singh said that it was a great honor for him to be here at this sacred land to pay rich tributes to Sant Harchand Singh Longowal. He said that Sant Longowal had laid down his life for ensuring communal harmony, peace and amity in the country adding that Mr. Badal had carried on the legacy of the Sant Longowal in true sense. Mr. Singh also recalled the valuable contribution made by Punjabis in preserving the unity and integrity of the country besides safeguarding its borders.The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh further said that this land of great saints, seers and Gurus was aptly known as the ‘Sword arm’ of the country. Mr. Rajnath Singh said that the country was facing a grave crisis as both China and Pakistan were posing serious threats to the sovereignty of the country. However he said that the feeble UPA government has failed to give the befitting rely to them. The National BJP President said that the UPA should have stopped the dialogue process with Pakistan against this sinister move of its Army but the Congress leaders have failed to protect the interests of the country.Mr. Singh said that the Prime Minister owes an answer to the country that why their government had been mute spectators to the killing of brave soldiers of our country. He further said that due to the wrong policies of the successive Congress government, India has failed to emerge as a strong nation whereas many other smaller nations who got independent after India have now emerged much stronger than our country. The national BJP President said that as country’s prestige was at stake so the Punjabis must take the lead in initiating a spree to uproot the Congress from power.In his address former Union Minister Mr. Shanta Kumar said that the Union government has insulted the supreme sacrifices of the national heroes by terming that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was not martyr. He said that this cruel joke with the national martyr was not at all acceptable. He called upon all the people to pledge and uproot this corrupt government from the Centre.In his address former Union Minister and national spokesperson of BJP Mr. Shahnawaz Hussain said that Shaheed Harchand Singh Longowal had sacrificed his life for the cause of national unity and integrity but it was unfortunate that the Union government considered only those people martyrs who belong to a particular family. He said that the country was weakening with every passing day and the strengthening of Dollar in comparison to Rupee was a reflection of that. Mr. Hussain said that the prestige of the nation was at the lowest ebb due to the wrong policies of the UPA adding that it was writing on the wall that the NDA would form the next government at the centre after which the country’s prestige would be enhanced.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Advisor to Chief Minister on Media and National Affairs Mr. Harcharan Bains, Cabinet Ministers Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, State BJP President Mr. Kamal Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mrs. Farzaana Aalam, Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas and Babu Parkash Chand Garg, MLAs Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema and Mr. Iqbal Singh Jhunda.