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Urine case: Badal orders probe
From Tribune Reporters

GONIANA (Bathinda), July 17 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab, has ordered an inquiry into the “urine drinking incident” that took place in one of the police stations in Batala in which an “Amritdhari Sikh” was compelled to drink urine by an ASI. Mr Badal, who was here today to attend a “sangat darshan programme” said an inquiry into a ‘custodial death’ in Noshera Panua chowki of Sarhali police station of Amritsar district had also been ordered and a DIG would conduct the inquiries of both the cases.

Mr Badal who also laid the foundation stone of ‘Lake Chowk’ in Bathinda near thermal plant said the Akali Dal was firm on the resolution passed by the working committee in Ludhiana conference in 1978 seeking more powers for the state.

He said not only Punjab but all other states should also be given more powers. He added that the Anandpur Sahib resolution was different from Jammu and Kashmir autonomy issue. Mr Badal said he was in favour of a true federal system.

Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP and senior Akali leader, who was also present on the occasion while talking to mediapersons said the Anandpur Sahib resolution was within the Constitution. He added that the Akali Dal had been demanding more powers not only Punjab but for all other states also.

Mr Bhunder also welcomed the review of Constitution. He added that what was not applicable in the Constitution should be removed and new things should be added.

FARIDKOT: The Punjab Government will spend more than Rs 1,000 crore on different development projects during the current financial year, out of which 20 to 30 per cent would come from the Central Government. This was stated by Mr Parkash Singh Badal while talking to media persons here on Monday.

The Chief Minister categorically stated that the state was not facing any financial crisis. He parried all questions regarding bringing of Anandpur Sahib resolution in the Assembly. However, Mr Badal reiterated his demand for getting more financial and other powers for all states.

Lashing out at the Congress Mr Badal said that Congress had always adopted divide and rule policy to run its governments at the Centre and in states. He also charged Congress for its failure to resolve the problems of countrymen during its 45-year rule. Mr Badal also held the Congress responsible for the bloodshed of thousands of innocent people in the state a decade ago.

The Chief Minister, who is also head of the Shiromani Akali Dal (B), made it clear that his party and its ally BJP had no differences and were running the government smoothly.

Mrs Gurcharan Kaur, Senior Vice President BJP, Punjab, who was also present on the occasion, said that 29 per cent of the total revenue of the country was distributed among the states to provide facilities to the farmers. The Centre had also implemented ‘Krishi Cards’ policy to benefit the farmers in the country, she said.

Later, Mr Badal administered the oath of office to Mr Harinderjit Singh Baggar and Mr Harjit Singh Bolewal as chairman of Improvement Trust and Market Committee Faridkot respectively.

Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who was here today to inaugurate the Rs 2.50 crore water supply scheme in Goniana Kalan village of this district and to lay the foundation stone of ‘Bhai Ghanaya Chowk’ in Bathinda, said a new project to repair and to cement the minors would be prepared to solve the problems of the farmers.

He said a sum of Rs 125 crore had already been released to repair and cement the minors of Bathinda branch of Sirhind feeder. He added that a Command Area Development Authority had been formed in Punjab under the presidentship of the Chief Secretary in which high officials of the Tubewell Corporation, Irrigation Department and Drainage and Sewage Department had been included.

Mr Badal said the Centre would contribute 90 per cent and the 10 per cent would be given by the village concerned to improve the water supply schemes.

He gave Rs 3 lakh for the water supply scheme of Mehmat Barkari village of this district from the District Planning Board and Rs 4 lakh for water supply scheme of Nahianwala village of this district. Mr Badal also distributed Rs 26 lakh to the various panchayats of the surrounding villages of this district. He said the sewage project would be prepared for the development of Goniana within a month.