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second term: SAD-BJP government completes one year in office
assembly
in session |
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CM: Congress has disgraced democracy
Ruckus: Cong MLAs may be suspended
Bajwa behind confrontational approach
Pak hands over Indian prisoner’s body
Boxers
in the drug ring
Steeped in debt, PRTC asks for merger with Punjab Roadways
Rampant cheating: Exam at 11 centres cancelled
Students hold protest rally against PTU
Fighting high taxes
'Patit' Sikh students can't study at SGPC-run colleges: SGPC president
Number 0007 auctioned for
Rs 10.5 lakh in Ropar
Justice Kuldeep submits report
on land grab investigation
Mann seeks stay on Rajoana’s hanging
Garg’s plea to quash FIR dismissed
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second term: SAD-BJP government completes one year in office
Chandigarh, March 13 The SAD-BJP government, which was formed in March last year and completed its first year today, began with a win in the municipal elections. It later won the Dasuya byelection, which was followed by a thumping win in the Moga byelection. The SAD also registered an impressive win in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) elections. However, the success on the electoral front was eclipsed on the political front. First, it was Bibi Jagir Kaur who had to quit the cabinet following her conviction in a criminal case. Some months later, another cabinet minister Tota Singh had to resign following his conviction in a case of misuse of official position. Another minister Gulzar Singh Ranike had to resign after a controversy broke out regarding a fraud in the utilisation of grants in certain parts of the border belt. He, however, staged a comeback in the cabinet recently. On the law and order front, the SAD-BJP government remained on the defensive right from the beginning of its second term. First, it was the Faridkot abduction case that almost rocked the government. It provided enough ammunition to the Opposition to attack the government. Killing of an Assistant Sub-Inspector in broad daylight in Amritsar further pushed the government on the back foot. Thrashing of an SP-rank official allegedly by certain ruling party supporters in Ludhiana made the things hotter for the ruling alliance. Slapping of a woman by certain policemen in Tarn Taran hit the headlines at the national level and brought disrepute for all concerned in the state government. The building of the Operation Bluestar memorial on the premises of the Golden Temple complex and issues related to the death sentence of former Chief Minister Beant Singh assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana also gave a tough time to the government. In recent months, many cases of rape, causing serious concerns regarding the safety of women, have been reported from various parts of the state. However, the stand taken by the government against drug mafia has started showing results. The police has been able to seize a huge stock of drugs. The scenario on the power front continues to be grim. Though the SAD-BJP government had promised to make the state power surplus within a year of its second term, it seems to be a distant reality as of now. People in the countryside should be prepared to suffer long power cuts in the summer months, which they endured last year as well. It is true that thermal plants are coming up at places such as Vanawala near Talwandi Sabo, Goindwal near Kapurthala and Rajpura near Patiala, but when will these start generating power is not yet clear. Even after the completion of a year, the government is yet to come out with a new industrial policy. It has made several statements to promote industry, but promises in this regard have so far remained confined to official files. On the eve of the last assembly elections, the SAD-BJP combine had promised to develop Mohali and Amritsar as IT hubs, but this promise is far from fulfilled. Most of the youths from Punjab have to move to Pune, Hyderbad, Banglore, Mumbai and other cities to seek employment in good IT companies. There was a proposal to promote textile parks in the state, but that has also not materialised yet. Without having adequate land bank, the industry cannot be promoted because the cost of land has proved a major hurdle for setting up industrial units. There has been a slow growth in the farm sector. It was just 1.89 per cent during the 11th Five-Year Plan against the national figure of 3 per cent. There are indications of a negative growth in this sector during the current fiscal year. One established fact is that the farm sector is facing stagnation. There is a need to break this to make agriculture viable for farmers. On the other hand, the Central Government is pressing for diversification in the farm sector in the state. Facing a serious crisis on the fiscal front, the government has demanded Rs 5,000 crore from the Centre to initiate the process of diversification. The overall contribution of agriculture and its allied activities in the state's economy has been shrinking for the past some years even as nearly 60 per cent of state's population is dependent on this sector. Suicides in farm sector are a well-known phenomenon. There has been no visible improvement in the education and health sectors. Punjab does not have a single educational institution in the public sector which can be counted among the top 10 in the country. It is often complained by private companies that come here for recruitment that Punjab should raise the level of education to make its youth employable in the highly competitive job market in the country and aboard. High incidence of cancer in certain parts of the Malwa region continues to be a cause for concern. There is a problem regarding drinking water, the testing of which at certain places revealed the presence of toxic metals beyond permissible limit. State's fiscal situation continues to be precarious. This month, the government was unable to pay salaries to its employees on time. The achievements on the plan implementation front are likely to be just 50 per cent, thus affecting the development process in the state. At the time of the last assembly elections, the SAD-BJP combine had made innumerable promises to the people. But its report card on this front is poor. The government has failed to give laptops to students. It has failed to increase the pension given to various sections of society and the shagun money. However, it is continuing with the Atta-Dal scheme although it is also riddled with fiscal difficulties. The promise regarding allowance which was to be given to unemployed graduates is yet to be implemented. Certain promises made to farmers also remain unfulfilled. ‘A dream start’
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assembly
in session
Chandigarh, March 13 As Question hour was about to end, CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar got up to protest against the “unconstitutional police raid” on the party office. At this, all Congress legislators staged a walkout. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal got up and said: “The uproar in the House is unfortunate as both the SAD and the Congress had buried the hatchet to ensure a smooth assembly session. Jakhar forcibly got the girl from Tarn Taran and brought her inside the Vidhan Sabha complex illegally. The motive is simply to be in the news.” But the CLP Leader, at a press briefing, called the "raid" an attack on democracy. He demanded that the Speaker and the Deputy Chief Minister, in his capacity as Home Minister, should both resign. “There might have been a procedural lapse. But there is no doubt that the police assault on the hapless girl has exposed the demonic face of the men in khaki. Denied a pass at the entrance, the victim contacted me and I got her inside. I don't understand this fuss about how she came inside,” he said. A senior Congress man was of the opinion that a leader of the stature of the Chief Minister should have allowed the victim inside and should have granted her a special audience.Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Chief Minister, said: “ Instead of wasting energy on finding out as to how the girl had entered the complex, the government should answer how 50 policemen had entered the CLP leader’s office illegally.” Minister for Health Madan Mohan Mittal tried to move a resolution, proposing that “strict action should be initiated against the guilty.” At this, angry Congress legislators trooped into the well of the House raising anti-government slogans. When the House met again at 1 pm, Congress legislators once again trooped into the well and the Chair called off the session till 2 pm. The ‘raid’ and thereafter
I only wanted to get the girl before the media so that she could present her point of view. The government’s over-reaction speaks volumes about its intentions I am not moving out from the city till I am heard by the authorities. I approached the CLP Leader only when I got no support from the government. Even today the government tried to evict me out of the Vidhan Sabha complex. I do not know what to expect next
Police complaint lodged against Congress MLAs
Chandigarh: With Congress legislators taking the law into their own hands in the Vidhan Sabha today, a criminal complaint has been filed against several of them at the Sector 3 police station here.
Sources said watch and ward staff member Jaipal had approached the police station, alleging he had been beaten up by several Congress legislators. The complaint is being “studied” and a decision is likely to be taken at a senior level. The watch and ward staff, including policemen, converged at the CLP leader's office while looking for the Tarn Taran assault victim and her father, who had been sneaked into the assembly complex. Senior police officials entered the office of the CLP leader.This was objected to by some members. A police personnel, who was in plainclothes, was caught by the neck by legislator Kuljit Singh Nagra. He was roughed up by several MLAs. — TNS
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CM: Congress has disgraced democracy
Chandigarh March 13 Describing it as the “saddest day of my long political career and a blot on democracy”, the Chief Minister said: “I find it impossible to believe that those elected by the people to function as their spokespersons and act as role models for their children should stoop to the levels of criminals indulging in hooliganism." Badal took on CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar, saying the latter’s role was condemnable. He claimed Jakhar had connived with "unauthorised" persons (Tarn Taran assault victim and her father) in a serious breach of security and had broken norms of dignified democratic behaviour. He decried the “merciless” beating of watch and ward staff in the presence of the CLP Leader. Badal appealed to the Opposition to pull back from this “perilous course of confrontation and violence” and return to peaceful and democratic means of functioning.
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Ruckus: Cong MLAs may be suspended
Chandigarh, March 13 Sources said the SAD-BJP could take up the issue of "lawless" behaviour by the Congress legislators in the House tomorrow and might move a privilege motion on the issue. A privilege motion has already been moved against the beating up of a watch and ward staff member outside the office of the CLP Leader's office. Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia said the behaviour of the Congress legislators was "shameful" and what saddened him was that it had happened under the stewardship of CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar. The sources said despite the provocation by few Congress men who roughed up a watch and ward staff member, there was hope that an agreement would be reached between the treasury benches and the Opposition after the Speaker adjourned the House twice for an hour each. However with the Congress undecided on the next course of action, there could be no rapprochement. Meanwhile, there is confusion on the next course of action in the Congress. The CLP Leader, Sunil Jakhar, held a meeting at the residence of legislator Rana Gurjit. However, only 20 of the 44 party MLAs turned up. A section of the Congress MLAs want the House to run normally but in case the SAD-BJP alliance opts for suspension of legislators, the battle lines could be drawn further and the assembly proceedings disrupted yet again. Past imperfect
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Bajwa behind confrontational approach
Chandigarh, March 13 This new policy has confused the Congress legislators. More so because the CLP leader had announced that the party would do its best to ensure a smooth Budget session. However, Jakhar inexplicably took a decision to bring the Tarn Taran assault victim and her father to his office in the Vidhan Sabha, despite the fact that they had not been given an entry pass. When questioned, Jakhar said he had brought the two inside the complex to present them before the media. He claimed the woman was being pressured by the Tarn Taran SSP to reach a compromise. He said his decision to bring the woman and her father inside had resulted in a “raid” on the CLP office although Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal had described it as a preventive measure to stop the woman from entering the assembly hall. Today’s events indicate that the CLP Leader is not able to control his flock. Jakhar was seen persuading Congress MLAs Kuljit Nagra and Rana Gurjit not to assault the police personnel in their “custody.” Also, he could not stop his MLAs from resorting to violence against the watch and ward staff. The Chief Minister blamed the new PCC president for the acrimony. He said Bajwa in his maiden speech to the legislators had called for a boycott of the SAD-BJP alliance and urged them to take an oath in this regard at Darbar Sahib. The Deputy CM said that at the meeting of the business advisory committee before the Budget session, he had requested Congress leaders to shun confrontation. He said leave alone confrontation, the Opposition was now resorting to violence out of sheer ‘ frustration’. Bajwa said he had no inkling that Jakhar would take the Tarn Taran victim to the assembly. He said Jakhar had done so because the woman was being “pressurised to reach a compromise.” Fresh strategy
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Pak hands over Indian prisoner’s body
Amritsar, March 13 Dara Singh, the deceased's eldest son, alleged that the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir Government made little effort to seek his repatriation. He said his father had accidentally entered into Pakistan territory. "Had the governments acted in time, my father would have been alive," he said. He said it was in 2012 that they received a letter from his father, informing them that he was lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail. The family immediately took up the issue of his repatriation with the state and Central Government but in vain. Disappointed at the non-cooperative attitude of the government, the family refused to transport the body in an ambulance provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Government. There was a scene when BJP leaders led by Naresh Sharma entered into an argument with BSF personnel, demanding that they be allowed to shift the body to a private air-conditioned ambulance.
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Boxers
in the drug ring
Ludhiana, March 13 The Punjab Police is treading cautiously on the issue of questioning the boxer after the Haryana Government mounted pressure and stood in support of Vijender, a serving DSP. DIG MF Farooqui, however, said, "The investigation is heading in the right direction. We have snapped a major chain by arresting Maninder and Anup. Now we are after Jagdish Singh Bhola, who is expected to be apprehended soon. If Vijender did not comply, we would approach the court for obtaining orders to take his hair and blood samples." Sources said the Fatehgarh Sahib police yesterday sent summons to Vijender under Section 160 of the CrPC. The boxer has been called to join the investigation and clarify his relations with drug peddler Anup Singh, besides giving hair and blood samples. Police officials said Vijender couldn't be allowed more time as he was a trained athlete and might be able to washout trace of contraband from his body. The summons had not been reportedly served on the boxer yet and efforts were on to get it revoked. Fellow boxer Ram Singh had told the police that he and Vijender had tried the drug on February 25, taking it to be a food supplement. Boxer’s samples ‘unacceptable’ The Fatehgarh Sahib police has refused to accept international boxer Vijender Singh’s blood and hair samples, which he has reportedly given to the Haryana Police, as the set procedure hasn’t been properly followed. The SSP said that only the investigation officer or the DSP could take samples in the presence of two private witnesses of the accused.
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Steeped in debt, PRTC asks for merger with Punjab Roadways
Patiala, March 13 It has outstanding payments of over Rs 65
crore. As of now, the management is bearing all expenses, including salaries and pensions, from their ticket revenue. On the other hand, the pensions and salaries of employees of Punjab Roadways are given by the Punjab government. Since 1992, PRTC has been running without any government assistance. After making losses for the past two decades, the PRTC had generated a profit last year by improving its functioning. Encouraged by the corporation’s working, a team from the Central Institute of Road Transport,
Pune, had visited all PRTC depots in Punjab to provide it central financial assistance so it could become a state-of-the-art state transport unit. But various other factors, including the rise in prices of bulk fuel and the Rs-10 crore payment the state government owes PRTC against free travel, has added to the corporation’s woes. The corporation also loses over Rs 1 crore every day its employees strike for not getting their salaries on time. The rise in prices of bulk fuel has increased PRTC’s expenditure by Rs 10 lakh per day. The management has time and again written to the Punjab government for assistance but to no avail. Recently, PRTC Managing Director DPS Kharbanda had sought a waiver of road tax worth several crore from the government. The government is yet to
respond. PRTC had also requested the Punjab government to allocate Rs 50 crore to the organisation in the annual budget to improve its finances but this request is yet to be cleared.
PRTC has Rs-65 crore liability till date, including Rs 13.30 crore under the GP fund, Rs 13 crore under the Motor Vehicle Tax, Rs 7.50 crore under the revised pay scale, Rs 7 crore payment towards PRTC km-scheme buses, Rs 6.25 crore under the revised gratuity, Rs 5.50 crore as balance leave payment, Rs 5.4 crore under gratuity, Rs 4.20 crore under revised pension, Rs 1.23 crore as audit fee and Rs 1.10 crore as medical claims.
Kharbanda confirmed they had made a request for a merger since it was difficult to run the corporation without any financial aid. “Employee organisations often boycott work for delay in release of salaries and pensions. It leads to a loss of almost Rs 1 crore per day. Moreover, we are yet to receive our payment from Punjab government for the free travel we provided it,” he said. If the government accepts our demand of allocating Rs 50 crore to PRTC in the annual budget, it may help us solve many problems,” added
Kharbanda. Facing such a severe financial crisis, the PRTC’s project of adding 100 buses to its fleet in 2013 has also got delayed. Employees often boycott work due to delay in release of salaries. It leads to a loss of almost Rs 1 crore per day. Moreover, the Punjab government owes us Rs 10 crore for the free travel we provided it
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Rampant cheating: Exam at 11 centres cancelled
Ludhiana, March 13 Director General Secondary Education (DGSE) KS Pannu said cheating cases were reported from Muktsar, Dasuya, Ferozepur, Moga, Roopnagar, Tarn Taran and Mohali districts. “We are in no mood to spare anyone found guilty. We want to be just with the students who have worked hard for the exams and therefore have cancelled it at 11 centres,” said Pannu. A top-level official in Punjab School Education Board, requesting anonymity, said that copying or impersonation was not possible unless staff on duty was hand in glove with the school authorities. “It is difficult to supervise private schools as the board doesn’t depute invigilators there. Private schools usually adopt unethical means to help their students achieve good results,” he added. The centers at which the exam has been cancelled include Dashmesh Public Senior Secondary School, Kaud Data; Sant Baba Tara Singh Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Tarn Taran; Government Senior Secondary School Verka Boys, Rayya Center at Amritsar; Shri Guru Hargobind Public School, Bhana, Faridkot; Babuta Senior Secondary School, Jalalabad; DAV Senior Secondary School, Dasuya block 2; and Guru Hargobind Public School, Usmaan, Hoshiarpur. Cases of impersonation have been reported at Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Fazilka and
Sangrur.
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Students hold protest rally against PTU
Chandigarh, March 13 A large number of students from the association of the distance education regional and learning centres, marched to the Rally Ground in Sector 25 here today to present a memorandum to the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. They urged the authorities to resolve the issue and appoint a committee to look into the matter. Representatives of PTU Distance Education Programme (DEP) Students Union, PTU DEP Learning Centres (LC) Union, and All India PTU DEP Association took out the rally. Ravinder Kumar, President of the PTU DEP LC Union said this decision made over 1.50 lakh students across the country ineligible for any Central Government job. He said even the Delhi High Court had barred PTU from carrying out further admissions in its distance education programmes. The students alleged that the Vice Chancellor had completely ignored the issue and blamed him for not being able to get the programme’s approval renewed from the DEC. Ravinder Kumar said the PTU had over 2,000 learning centres across the country which had helped youth acquire the much-needed skills and become employable. The PTU ran various vocational programmes. However, it reduced the fees by more than 10% making these programmes unviable economically, he said. Gurmeet Singh, Vice President of the All India PTU DEP Association, lamented sheer mismanagement on PTU administration’s part has led to dwindling admissions in the university. The distance education programme has proved to be such a success, helping nearly 25,000 students pursue higher studies and get jobs in government and private sectors.
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Fighting high taxes
Patiala, March 13 Various associations of the business community have decided to observe a complete bandh tomorrow. They will go on a protest march and later stage a dharna outside the Patiala Municipal Corporation office. According to the property rates fixed by the Patiala Municipal Corporation, from April 1 onwards, city residents will have to pay five times the house tax. As per the new rates, residents will have to pay Rs 31,416 per year for a 522 square-metre residential plot as opposed to Rs 7,830 per year earlier. Similarly for commercial properties, the MC will now charge Rs 2,35,464 in tax on 325 square-metre showroom compared to Rs 58,500, earlier. On industrial properties, the MC will charge Rs 64,148 in tax on 4,250 square-metre plot, as opposed to Rs 15,937 earlier. Residents will even have to pay more for vacant plots from now on. Anyone who has a 500 square-metre vacant plot, will have to shell out Rs 7,546 annually compared to Rs 1,875 earlier. President of the Sangharsh Committee Rakesh Gupta said, “As such people in Punjab were paying much more tax as compared to in other states and business here has taken a back seat. These fresh taxes will further damage the prospects of all businessmen. I do not understand how the government plans to promote business when it is levying such high taxes?” Committee vice-president Bhagwan Das Chawla said, “It was high time people raised their voice against this high tax regime. We will further intensify our stir if the need arises.” Congress MLA from Patiala (Rural) Brahm Mohindra has strongly condemned the imposition of these taxes. He said, “As such people in urban areas are most affected due to inflation and Punjab government has made things worse for them. Rather than imposing these taxes, they should find some alternate ways to generate resources.” Now pay more
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'Patit' Sikh students can't study at SGPC-run colleges: SGPC president
Khanna, March 13 He appealed to the students and staff to become the true disciples of Sikhism. He said this order would also be binding on staff of the colleges and school. However, he clarified that non-Sikh students would not have to abide by this direction and continue practising their religion. He said that the SGPC would donate one crore rupees to help youth, belonging to families hit by 1984 riots, pursue higher studies. As many as 532 girl students were conferred degrees at the ceremony. College Principal Jatinder Kaur Kottan presented the college report. Dharminder Singh Ubha, Director, SGPC Colleges, Inderjeet Singh Lopon, vice president of the college were also present on the occasion.
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Number 0007 auctioned for
Rs 10.5 lakh in Ropar
Ropar, March 13 In all the district administration got Rs 70 lakh against the auction of 160 numbers. The total reserve price of these numbers was fixed at Rs six lakh. The highest bid in today's auction for number 0007 is the highest for any vanity number in Ropar. Until now the maximum bid for 0001 has been quoted Rs 5.57 lakh in 2011. This year the same number fetched a price of Rs 6.2 lakh. Avtar Singh of Nawanshahr was the successful bidder for number 0007. He had bought it for his Tata Safari. Number 0013, which in Sikh religion is considered an auspicious number fetched Rs 4.4 lakh. Other numbers, however, could not attract bids more than Rs 2
lakh.
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Justice Kuldeep submits report
on land grab investigation
Chandigarh, March 13 Available information suggests the damning report also carries recommendations to the Punjab Government for dealing with the issue. It is believed that the Tribunal has referred to large chunks of land under unauthorised occupation, in its report. As the matter came up for resumed hearing this morning, a Division Bench took the report on record and asked the state of Punjab to file its response by March 26. Directed to be set up less than a year ago, Justice Kuldip Singh panel had to face all sort of odds. To begin with, even infrastructure was not provided to the panel. In August last year, the High Court observed that the Punjab Government was deliberately dragging its feet in the land grab probe by not providing infrastructure to the panel. Setting one-week deadline for the state of Punjab to provide complete infrastructure to the panel, the High Court in September last year had again rapped the state functionaries on their knuckles for their failure to act. It was only after September last year the panel could actually begin the probe. Headed by Supreme Court's former judge Justice Kuldip Singh, the tribunal was asked to look into land grab cases not just in Nayagaon and other villages on Chandigarh's periphery, but the entire state of Punjab. The submission of report is significant as the issue of influential persons acquiring land in Mohali district has been under the High Court scanner since 2007. Punjab had, on a previous date of hearing, informed the Bench that about 60 influential persons, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and DGP Sumedh Singh
Saini, had acquired properties in the area.
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Mann seeks stay on Rajoana’s hanging
Chandigarh, March 13 Describing as ambiguous and arbitrary the rules contained in the Punjab Jail Manual, Mann said the manual did not provide for “communication to the family of the condemned prisoner regarding his execution by the jail authorities”. It also did not provide for handing over the hanged prisoner’s body to his family.This was violative of Articles 19, 21 and 25 of the Constitution, he argued.
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Garg’s plea to quash FIR dismissed
Chandigarh, March 13 The accused, in October 2011 last, had allegedly executed sale deed of a government property illegally. The property, which houses offices of the civil surgeon, district town planner, district education officer and employment exchange, was estimated to be worth 250 crore. In his petition, Garg had claimed that he had no role to play in the registration of two sale deeds on October 14, 2011, and he had been implicated in the case for political reasons. Garg further claimed he did not give verbal directions for the registration of the sale deeds, as alleged.
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Chandigarh, March 13
Chandigarh March 13
Chandigarh, March 13
Amritsar, March 13
Chandigarh, March 13
At the start of the second term, our primary task was to ensure that no one was allowed to disturb peace in the state. In the past one year, we have made Punjab an oasis of peace… Looking at people's response to our performance, this was a dream year for the ruling alliance
I look back at the year gone by with complete satisfaction. We have not only maintained and even step up the tempo of development but have also set new targets to completely change the face of the state... On the fiscal front, the situation has never looked better in the past 15 years. For growth and development, creating the right sentiment and the right atmosphere is the key
People of the state are fully satisfied with the government's performance in the first year. This has been proved by the ruling alliance's impressive wins in Dasuya and Moga byelections… We will fulfill all the promises made to the people and will not let them down in any manner
The House decorum and dignity have been brutally violated. Even more shocking isthe fact that a person holding the responsible office of the Leader of the Opposition was responsible for this breach of privilege and security