M A I N   N E W S

Probe into Badal assets to be over by November-end
CM promises power to farmers
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

PPCC chief H.S. Hanspal shares a point with former Gurdaspur MP Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder as Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh looks on. — Photo S.S. Chopra

Naushera Pattan (Gurdaspur), August 21
Virtually ridiculing Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani’s charge that the Congress government had adopted a political vendetta against its political rivals, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said Mr Advani’s statement was “shameful”. The state government was doing all-out efforts to expose corruption committed at high echelons during the SAD-BJP government led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, he added.

Capt Amarinder Singh, who “inaugurated” the Naushehra Pattan bridge on the Beas here today, said he had also conveyed his government’s displeasure over the “uncalled-for” behaviour of Union Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Vinod Khanna, who “dedicated” the bridge to the people yesterday.

The Chief Minister asserted that senior SAD-BJP functionaries, including “ministers who committed corruption at all levels” during the SAD-BJP rule, would not be allowed to go scot free “each penny of corruption money will be returned to those people from whom it was taken,” said Capt Amarinder Singh.

The Chief Minister also indicated that the investigation into the assets of Mr Badal and his family members’ would be completed by November-end, thereby, enabling the state government to present its case in the court of law.

Launching a scathing attack on Mr Advani for his yesterday’s statement, Captain Amarinder Singh said Mr Advani had no right to issue such an “irresponsible” statement. “I want to ask Mr Advani, if he can give it in writing not to proceed against corrupt people, we will spare Mr Badal”, the Chief Minister said.

Capt Amarinder Singh asserted that his government had decided not to allow anyone to create problems during Mr Badal’s proposed rally on September 5 in Chandigarh.

Making a major announcement for the people of the area, the Punjab Chief Minister said his government would ensure building a bridge at Katioor and setting up a Tehsil Complex at Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district. He said a 220 kw power station would start functioning soon at Tibri. He said his government was making all out efforts to ensure a 24-hour power supply to farmers of border areas. He said the Dorangala township would be made a block. He also assured that work on the 1000 km of widening of roads in the state would start within a month.

Virtually launching the poll campaign of the party in view of the forthcoming parliamentary elections Mr H.S. Hanspal, president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, made a startling revelation that a debt of 54,000 crore was left by the SAD-BJP government on the state and its daily interest was Rs 10 crore. He urged the people of the state to throw away the BJP government by defeating it in the next elections.

Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, Punjab PWD (B&R) Minister, asserted that the Naushehra Pattan bridge was a Congress project as it was sanctioned during the tenure of the Congress government led by Mr H.S. Brar.

He also alleged that a former MP from Gurdaspur, Ms Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, played a key role in bringing the catering institute to Gurdaspur, but, it was inaugurated by Mr Khanna, who did not even deem it fit to invite Ms Bhinder to the function.

Others who spoke included Mr Ramesh Chander Dogra, Mr Raghu Nath Sahai Puri, Mr Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Ashwani Sekhri, all ministers, and Mr Kewal Krishan, Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.