M A I N   N E W S

Security for reverted cops to stay
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 8
In a bid to placate the feelings of the reverted police officers who were given promotions under the ORP category (own rank promotions), Mr Parkash Singh Badal said his government was committed to continuing their security cover.

There was apprehension that the police officials who were demoted from the senior ranks e.g SPs to that of inspector or sub-inspector level might be deprived of the security cover. It may be mentioned here that many police officials who were promoted under the ORP scheme for fighting militancy were reverted following the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Mr Badal said his government was committed to give security to every resident of the state.

Close on the heels of the bonanza announced for farmers, Mr Badal promised to treat the businessmen, traders and residents of urban areas on a par. He said every constituency of the state would be allocated Rs 3 crore in addition to other funds to ensure overall development of the state.

During the sangat darshan programme held in the constituency of Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP MLA, Mr Badal agreed to the demand of the residents to cover the drain which passes through the main city at a cost of Rs 9 crore. He said the municipal corporation and the Improvement Trust had expressed their inability to complete the work and so the project would be handed over to the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) which would complete the project at a cost of Rs 4 crore.

Interestingly Mr Badal was non-commital on the unity move, which was initiated by his party recently. He said he did not want to comment on this issue as the step for forging Panthic unity was construed as his weakness.

The Chief Minister gave a broad hint that he was not going to accept the demand of the leaders of the Panthic Morcha for appearing before Akal Takht for violating the hukamnama issued by Bhai Ranjit Singh, the then Jathedar, Akal Takht. He alleged that some leaders who pretended to be “panthic” were playing the game of the Congress, which had done irrepairable damage to the state and the country. Mr Badal said he was of the opinion that instead of “personal attack” the real issues concerning the common man should be addressed. He said he was ready to compare the achievements made during his regime with that of the Congress.

The Chief Minister listened to the grievances of the textile industry association and immediately directed the chairman, Punjab State Electricity Board, for taking necessary steps so that the industrialists should not feel harassed anymore. The members of the association said the textile industry was on the verge of closure due to apathy of the state government.

He promised the association of flour millers that his government would consider their demand of exempting those owners from the Punjab Trade Articles licence who had a load of 25 quintals. Mr Badal also promised the traders of “pappar warhian” that these would be declared cottage industry. He said he would exempt these units from the sales tax also.