by Punjabnewswire4u
NEW DELHI, JUNE 13
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh, along with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, today impressed upon the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to speed up the process of transferring Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas to the state in fulfillment of what the Chief Minister described as “the broad national consensus on the issue as expressed through the parliamentary ratification in July 1985 of the state’s right on its capital and other areas.”
In a comprehensive memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister at his official residence 7 Race Course Road here today, both these leaders listed the various outstanding issues, rights, grievances and glaring cases of discrimination and injustice to the patriotic Punjabis in general and the Sikhs in particular state by successive Congress governments at the center and the state over the past decades.
PUNJAB SEEKS NO FAVOURS; IT DEMANDS JUSTICE
Mr. Badal brought to table the case of Punjab and the Sikhs in a well-documented, fact and merit based Memorandum, which took in its sweep long standing political, territorial, religious and economic cases of injustice done to the people of the state since Independence. The Chief Minister pitched the demand in the backdrop of a long history of struggle waged by the people of Punjab and said, “Punjabis are entitled to a very special liberal treatment from the Government of India, yet all the demands contained in the both parts of the memorandum accompanying this letter are based solely on merit. Punjabis seek no favours. They expect only justice from the Government of India.”
FEDERAL PRINCIPLE TO THE FORE
The Chief Minister argued entirely on the premise that “federal structure of the country” was the need of the hour. He praised the Prime Minister for bringing “cooperative federalism on the front burner of the national agenda and said that was the fulfillment of the long standing dream of the SAD for a strong and progressive India based on strong and progressive states.”
He emphasized that the solutions to the problems faced by the state were well known and generally upon. “All that is required on all the demands and issues concerning our state is an expeditious execution and implementation of the existing “broad and general consensus through timely directions to the relevant departments.”
In a politically significant pitch, Mr Badal sought to pre-empt any negative and propaganda against these demands as contrary to “national interest”, and said, “All these problems, demands and issues are fully in conformity with the overall national interests, and are the result merely of a long, willful and often deliberate refusal of the previous governments at the center to address these on merit at appropriate junctures of time.”
Mr. Badal also sent a gentle reminder to the government that continued neglect of the state’s rights can have a negative emotional fall out. “The constant ( denial of justice to the state) has led to a feeling of great injustice, discrimination and the resultant alienation in the minds of the people in Punjab in the past. This alienation needs to be addressed and ended.”
The CM said that though there was nation-wide policy for re-organization of states on linguistic grounds in the 1950’s articulated by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru but Punjab was inexplicably denied this legitimate right. He said that Punjabis had to wage a long and bitter but peaceful and democratic struggle in which lakhs had to go to jail before the Government of India agreed to extend the principal of linguistic re-organization to this state. However, Mr. Badal bemoaned that when the state was reorganized, grave injustice was done to it. He mentioned that in defiance of all established norms of linguistic demarcation, vast Punjabi speaking areas were left out of the state.
The Chief Minister said that the most glaring example of this injustice was the denial of the Capital City, Chandigarh, to Punjab as there was no other instance of linguistic re-organization of states in the country where the parent state was deprived of its capital, the most obvious examples of this being the states of Maharashtra (Mumbai) and the state of Madras, now Tamil Nadu (Chennai). He said that after a long struggle, Punjabis were promised the transfer of Chandigarh through a Settlement signed by no less a dignitary than the then Prime Minister of India, Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, and ratified subsequently by both Houses of Parliament, and even by the government of Haryana, at that time headed by Shri Bhajan Lal adding that even a date for the transfer of the City was fixed – January 26, 1986 – and all arrangements for the transfer were made. However, Mr. Badal said that the GoI went back on its commitment on the stroke of midnight of January 25 and 26, 1985 and cancelled the decision, postponing the transfer indefinitely. This was the cruelest joke played on the people of Punjab. This has served merely to deepen the wounds already inflicted on the psyche of the people of Punjab in general and the Sikhs in particular.
Urging Mr. Modi to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab forthwith and initiate the process of transfer of other Punjabi speaking areas left out of Punjab without any further delay, the Chief Minister said that a broad national consensus on the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, as contained in the endorsement by both Houses of Parliament, still exists. He said that in fact the then Prime Minister Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi had described the commitment to Punjab on Chandigarh as a sacred national pledge adding that there has already been an unbearably long and inordinate delay in the matter and time has come to do justice to us on this issue.
Mr. Badal also impressed upon the Prime Minister that in the meantime, as an extremely short term measure, the mutually agreed formula of 60:40 share for Punjab and Haryana in the administrative set up of Chandigarh should be respected and kept intact, respecting the decisions and subsequent reminders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. This formula has been progressively and systematically diluted and new UT cadre has been created through direct recruitment to fill posts in the UT administration. “This violation must be immediately stopped and the damage already done vacated through retrospective correction” he added.
RIVER WATERS
Mr. Badal minced no words in stating that the state’s case on the river waters was based on the nationally and internationally accepted Riparian principle. Mr. Badal said that great injustice has been meted out to the State by taking away its legitimate share of river waters. He said that this principle had been flouted in broad daylight only in the case of Punjab, which was highly discriminatory. He said that rivers were the life line of Punjab and ensuring their full capacity utilization by the first user state was not only just and fair but also in national interest. He said that because of the Punjab “being robbed of its right”, the state faced an alarming ecological and agrarian crisis which could turn the state into a desert in the next few decades.
SIKH ISSUES
In a forceful articulation of the issues concerning the Sikh community and widespread resentment against repeated attempts to interfere in their religious affairs, Mr. Badal reconstructed the entire historical and religious context in the pre-Independence and post independence periods, and said that the “nefarious designs to “divide or weaken the community or dilute its religious and cultural identity” had always evoked sharp reaction of the Sikh masses. He said that that the Sikhs had fully confidence that new political dispensation in new Delhi would effective vacate this policy and deliver justice to “ the patriotic Sikhs who had a fierce intensity on the issue of their religious identity.”
He also pointed out that any act of interference in the internal affairs of the Sikhs flew in the face of the Constitution of India and of the commitments made to the Sikh community by leaders like Mahatama Gandhi and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. He cited the Nehru -Master Tara Singh in this regard.
He cited the “dangerous” proposed move of the Haryana Government to set up separate Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee for the state, the Chief Minister said that any such move on part of Haryana government would be a clear violation of the constitutional provisions, as it would amount to a transgression upon the residual power of the Parliament to make such a law as the existing Board is an Inter-State Body Corporate. Similarly, on the issue of Sehajdhari Sikhs , he said that the needless controversy about the definition of a Sikh should be set at rest in the light of existing consensus. He said that the a government of India notification protecting the rights of the Sikhs as per their wishes and aspirations already stood in the form of a notification by the Government of India.
The Chief Minister urged Mr. Modi that the Parliament must ensure a suitable legislation for ensuring operation of SGPC, being an Inter-State Body Corporate, to the territorial areas which were under its jurisdiction under the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 so that the management of Sikh Gurdwaras was done in accordance with the objects and reasons of the principal Act of 1925. The powers to issue directions and any modifications in respect of the act governing the Board (SGPC) were reserved with the Central Government.
On the issue of voting Rights to Sehajdharis, the Chief Minister informed Mr. Modi that through an Amendment in Sikh Gurudwara Act in 1944, the Sehajdharis were given a right to vote. However, he said that on November 30, 2000, March 30, 2001 and again on March 30, 2002 the General House of SGPC had passed a resolution to delete the exception given to the Sehajdharis which was followed by resolution of Executive Committee of the SGPC on March 7, 2002. Likewise, he said that the then NDA Government had issued a notification on October 8, 2003 deleting the exception given to the Sehajdharis to vote. But this notification was set aside by the High Court on December 20, 2011 on the ground that such an amendment could not be brought about by a notification. But, it specifically upheld the right of the legislature to lay down the eligibility conditions for the voters to include or exclude a class or category, he added.
Subsequently, the Chief Minister urged Mr. Modi that the Parliament should amend the relevant provisions of the Sikh Gurudwara Act 1925 to bring about the same result that the notification did. He said that to ensure the continuity of the Board, the amendment be specifically made applicable retrospectively from October 8, 2003, the date of the earlier notification.
“All that is required is a procedural correction in giving this notification legislative sanction and form by incorporating it into the Sikh Gurdwara Act through a parliamentary amendment.
JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF 1984 MASSACRE
Raising the issue of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Chief Minister informed Mr. Modi that more than 3000 Sikhs were killed and their properties looted by organized groups belonging to the then ruling party and during these state sponsored massacres the law enforcing agencies under the pressures from their higher ups failed to protect the lives, properties and dignity of the Sikhs in those riots. He said that the successive Congress governments have failed to provide justice to the victims as no proper investigation was carried out adding that to further accentuate the woes of Sikhs the perpetrators of the massacre were rewarded with high constitutional posts by the successive Congress Governments, which thwarted every effort to provide justice.
The Chief Minister urged Mr. Modi to set up a Commission of Inquiry, headed by a Supreme Court judge, for probing the entire conspiracy, including official and political patronage behind the massacre. He said that the Commission should be asked to submit report within six months. Likewise, Mr. Badal also demanded that special Dedicated Courts should be set up to expedite the delivery of justice where FIRs have been registered and challans presented.
The Chief Minister also impressed upon Mr. Modi that all cases pertaining to the massacre that have been closed should be re-investigated and thereafter challans be presented before the Special Dedicated Courts. He also said that all complaints on which no action has been taken should be re-investigated and challans presented to the Special Dedicated Courts. Mr. Badal also impressed upon the Prime Minister to announce a Rehabilitation Package for all the riot victims.
RECRUITMENT TO ARMED FORCES
Raising another vital issue regarding the Recruitment formula for Army, the Chief Minister called upon Mr. Modi that a new formula which makes capability and merit as the sole criterion for selection should be implemented. He said that the recruitment policy to Army was changed to make it on the basis of "Recruitable Male Population” which by-passes the principle of merit adding that the need of the hour was to change this formula so that more and more youth from states like Punjab could join the Armed forces.
CORRIDOR TO KARTARPUR SAHIB ( PAKISTAN)
The Chief Minister also impressed upon Mr. Modi that the GoI should take up the matter with the national government of Pakistan to allow a direct corridor from Dera Baba Nanak (India) to Kartarpur Sahib (Pakistan) to enable the Sikhs to visit this holy place. He apprised the Prime Minister that Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara was a one of the most revered places of Sikhs and was situated just 3 kms away from the International Border on the Pakistan side.
FINANCIAL ISSUES/ DEBT WAIVER
The Chief Minister separately laid focus on the financial issues in a detailed case based on background of problems and fiscal rights of the state.
Strongly pleading for the case of outstanding debt waiver of Rs 1.02 lakh crore on count of militancy, the Chief Minister said that Punjab fought the national battle for which it should not be penalized anymore. Mr. Badal mentioned that he got this debt waived by making personal efforts and request to the then Prime Minister Mr. IK Gujral. He also said that Punjab was a Revenue surplus state till 1982 but due to the burden this debt coupled with Industrial concessions to the neighboring states led to further flight of capital and stopped any fresh investments further accentuated our woes and put our state in the whirlpool of debt trap.
The Chief Minister also impressed upon Mr. Modi for waiver of the centre government loans in view of state’s distressed financial position. Mr. Badal pointed out that the 13th Finance Commission had already placed the states of Punjab, Kerala and West Bengal in the category of Revenue Deficit states and it recommended to the Union government to find out ways and means to bail out these states from financial stringency. Now the Government of India (GoI) has again referred this vital issue to the 14th Finance Commission.
DEFENCE MANUFACTURING UNIT FOR PUNJAB
Making a case for Special Industrial Package for the state, the Chief Minister urged Mr. Modi that Central Public Sector Manufacturing unit should be established in Punjab. He said that unit in the area of production of defense material would be highly in order.
MAKE PUNJAB NATIONAL FOOD PROCESSING HUB
The other area was the food processing in which no major project has been given to the state . it would make sound economic sense and would be
GIVE INDUSTRIAL CONCESSION AT PAR WITH NEIGHBOURING STATES.
Likewise, he said that the state must be given Industrial Concessions at par with those granted to Himachal Pradesh (HP) and J&K. Demanding Freight equalization on industrial raw totally in national interest to set up projects linked with the availability of raw material. Since Punjab was an agrarian state, making it the national hub of processing industry would meet the national economic goals.
Mr. Badal also demanded that Eastern Freight Corridor should be extended from Ludhiana to Amritsar (Attari Border).
Batting for opening of trade through Hussainiwala and Fazilka borders, the Chief Minister apprised Mr. Modi that it would herald a new era of prosperity for the people of this landlocked border state besides promoting peace, brotherhood and people to people contact in the region and opening new vistas of trade with the Central Asia and Pakistan. He also demanded that the items traded through Attari - Wagah International Border should be increased to bring them at par with number of items being traded between Karachi - Mumbai.
Seeking special Financial Package for Holy City of Amritsar, the Chief Minister underlined the need for developing this sacred city on the lines of Varanasi. Similarly, he also sought the establishment of Central University at Amritsar for giving boost to the educational system in the region. Mr. Badal also requested the Prime Minister to set up Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and a Defence University in the state.
Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to eliminate cancer from the state, the Chief Minister also sought a special package worth Rs 200 crore from the centre to tackle this menace. Mr. Badal also urged the Prime Minister to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state, to impart quality Health care services to the residents of Punjab.
Demanding a special Debt Relief Package for the farmers of the state who were already reeling under a debt of Rs. 30,000 Crore, the Chief Minister apprised Mr. Modi that it was the need of the hour as due to the vicious circle of debt the rate of farmers’ suicides was increasing. He also said this package should include compensation for the families of the farmers who had committed suicide due to debt burden. Pleading the case of giving Minimum Support Price (MSP) as per Swaminathan Formula (Cost + 50% profit), Mr. Badal said that this would help in bailing out the distressed peasantry of the country from the agrarian crisis.
The Chief Minister also sought Mr. Modi’s personal intervention for approving the state’s Agriculture Diversification Plan worth Rs 7921 crore, as it would help in making the Agriculture a far more remunerative profession. Likewise, he also urged the Prime Minister that Animal Husbandry should also be included in Agriculture Diversification. Mr. Badal also apprised the Prime Minister that the state government has identified alternate crops like Maize, Agro-Forestry, Fruits & Vegetables, Dairy, Fishery and allied Animal Husbandry sector for encouraging crop diversification in Punjab.
Highlighting the current issue of Drug menace engulfing the state, the Chief Minister solicited the whole hearted support and cooperation from the Union government to eliminate this grave problem. He demanded that effective sealing of the International Border should be done by Para Military Forces to stop the smuggling of drugs from across the border thereby breaking the Narco-terrorism chain. Mr. Badal also sought a consolidated fund of Rs 200 crore for setting up Drug de-addiction centers and other facilities for ensuring rehabilitation of the drug addicted youth.
The Chief Minister also apprised Mr. Modi that the Union government has already sanctioned 53 projects worth Rs 2,519 crore under Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). He also urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the funds for these projects were released expeditiously.
Responding to the various issues raised by both the leaders, Mr. Modi gave a very receptive and positive hearing and said that the GoI soon would consider all these demands on merit.
----balbirsingh227@gmail.com
NEW DELHI, JUNE 13
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh, along with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, today impressed upon the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to speed up the process of transferring Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas to the state in fulfillment of what the Chief Minister described as “the broad national consensus on the issue as expressed through the parliamentary ratification in July 1985 of the state’s right on its capital and other areas.”
In a comprehensive memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister at his official residence 7 Race Course Road here today, both these leaders listed the various outstanding issues, rights, grievances and glaring cases of discrimination and injustice to the patriotic Punjabis in general and the Sikhs in particular state by successive Congress governments at the center and the state over the past decades.
PUNJAB SEEKS NO FAVOURS; IT DEMANDS JUSTICE
Mr. Badal brought to table the case of Punjab and the Sikhs in a well-documented, fact and merit based Memorandum, which took in its sweep long standing political, territorial, religious and economic cases of injustice done to the people of the state since Independence. The Chief Minister pitched the demand in the backdrop of a long history of struggle waged by the people of Punjab and said, “Punjabis are entitled to a very special liberal treatment from the Government of India, yet all the demands contained in the both parts of the memorandum accompanying this letter are based solely on merit. Punjabis seek no favours. They expect only justice from the Government of India.”
FEDERAL PRINCIPLE TO THE FORE
The Chief Minister argued entirely on the premise that “federal structure of the country” was the need of the hour. He praised the Prime Minister for bringing “cooperative federalism on the front burner of the national agenda and said that was the fulfillment of the long standing dream of the SAD for a strong and progressive India based on strong and progressive states.”
He emphasized that the solutions to the problems faced by the state were well known and generally upon. “All that is required on all the demands and issues concerning our state is an expeditious execution and implementation of the existing “broad and general consensus through timely directions to the relevant departments.”
In a politically significant pitch, Mr Badal sought to pre-empt any negative and propaganda against these demands as contrary to “national interest”, and said, “All these problems, demands and issues are fully in conformity with the overall national interests, and are the result merely of a long, willful and often deliberate refusal of the previous governments at the center to address these on merit at appropriate junctures of time.”
Mr. Badal also sent a gentle reminder to the government that continued neglect of the state’s rights can have a negative emotional fall out. “The constant ( denial of justice to the state) has led to a feeling of great injustice, discrimination and the resultant alienation in the minds of the people in Punjab in the past. This alienation needs to be addressed and ended.”
The CM said that though there was nation-wide policy for re-organization of states on linguistic grounds in the 1950’s articulated by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru but Punjab was inexplicably denied this legitimate right. He said that Punjabis had to wage a long and bitter but peaceful and democratic struggle in which lakhs had to go to jail before the Government of India agreed to extend the principal of linguistic re-organization to this state. However, Mr. Badal bemoaned that when the state was reorganized, grave injustice was done to it. He mentioned that in defiance of all established norms of linguistic demarcation, vast Punjabi speaking areas were left out of the state.
The Chief Minister said that the most glaring example of this injustice was the denial of the Capital City, Chandigarh, to Punjab as there was no other instance of linguistic re-organization of states in the country where the parent state was deprived of its capital, the most obvious examples of this being the states of Maharashtra (Mumbai) and the state of Madras, now Tamil Nadu (Chennai). He said that after a long struggle, Punjabis were promised the transfer of Chandigarh through a Settlement signed by no less a dignitary than the then Prime Minister of India, Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, and ratified subsequently by both Houses of Parliament, and even by the government of Haryana, at that time headed by Shri Bhajan Lal adding that even a date for the transfer of the City was fixed – January 26, 1986 – and all arrangements for the transfer were made. However, Mr. Badal said that the GoI went back on its commitment on the stroke of midnight of January 25 and 26, 1985 and cancelled the decision, postponing the transfer indefinitely. This was the cruelest joke played on the people of Punjab. This has served merely to deepen the wounds already inflicted on the psyche of the people of Punjab in general and the Sikhs in particular.
Urging Mr. Modi to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab forthwith and initiate the process of transfer of other Punjabi speaking areas left out of Punjab without any further delay, the Chief Minister said that a broad national consensus on the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, as contained in the endorsement by both Houses of Parliament, still exists. He said that in fact the then Prime Minister Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi had described the commitment to Punjab on Chandigarh as a sacred national pledge adding that there has already been an unbearably long and inordinate delay in the matter and time has come to do justice to us on this issue.
Mr. Badal also impressed upon the Prime Minister that in the meantime, as an extremely short term measure, the mutually agreed formula of 60:40 share for Punjab and Haryana in the administrative set up of Chandigarh should be respected and kept intact, respecting the decisions and subsequent reminders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. This formula has been progressively and systematically diluted and new UT cadre has been created through direct recruitment to fill posts in the UT administration. “This violation must be immediately stopped and the damage already done vacated through retrospective correction” he added.
RIVER WATERS
Mr. Badal minced no words in stating that the state’s case on the river waters was based on the nationally and internationally accepted Riparian principle. Mr. Badal said that great injustice has been meted out to the State by taking away its legitimate share of river waters. He said that this principle had been flouted in broad daylight only in the case of Punjab, which was highly discriminatory. He said that rivers were the life line of Punjab and ensuring their full capacity utilization by the first user state was not only just and fair but also in national interest. He said that because of the Punjab “being robbed of its right”, the state faced an alarming ecological and agrarian crisis which could turn the state into a desert in the next few decades.
SIKH ISSUES
In a forceful articulation of the issues concerning the Sikh community and widespread resentment against repeated attempts to interfere in their religious affairs, Mr. Badal reconstructed the entire historical and religious context in the pre-Independence and post independence periods, and said that the “nefarious designs to “divide or weaken the community or dilute its religious and cultural identity” had always evoked sharp reaction of the Sikh masses. He said that that the Sikhs had fully confidence that new political dispensation in new Delhi would effective vacate this policy and deliver justice to “ the patriotic Sikhs who had a fierce intensity on the issue of their religious identity.”
He also pointed out that any act of interference in the internal affairs of the Sikhs flew in the face of the Constitution of India and of the commitments made to the Sikh community by leaders like Mahatama Gandhi and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. He cited the Nehru -Master Tara Singh in this regard.
He cited the “dangerous” proposed move of the Haryana Government to set up separate Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee for the state, the Chief Minister said that any such move on part of Haryana government would be a clear violation of the constitutional provisions, as it would amount to a transgression upon the residual power of the Parliament to make such a law as the existing Board is an Inter-State Body Corporate. Similarly, on the issue of Sehajdhari Sikhs , he said that the needless controversy about the definition of a Sikh should be set at rest in the light of existing consensus. He said that the a government of India notification protecting the rights of the Sikhs as per their wishes and aspirations already stood in the form of a notification by the Government of India.
The Chief Minister urged Mr. Modi that the Parliament must ensure a suitable legislation for ensuring operation of SGPC, being an Inter-State Body Corporate, to the territorial areas which were under its jurisdiction under the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 so that the management of Sikh Gurdwaras was done in accordance with the objects and reasons of the principal Act of 1925. The powers to issue directions and any modifications in respect of the act governing the Board (SGPC) were reserved with the Central Government.
On the issue of voting Rights to Sehajdharis, the Chief Minister informed Mr. Modi that through an Amendment in Sikh Gurudwara Act in 1944, the Sehajdharis were given a right to vote. However, he said that on November 30, 2000, March 30, 2001 and again on March 30, 2002 the General House of SGPC had passed a resolution to delete the exception given to the Sehajdharis which was followed by resolution of Executive Committee of the SGPC on March 7, 2002. Likewise, he said that the then NDA Government had issued a notification on October 8, 2003 deleting the exception given to the Sehajdharis to vote. But this notification was set aside by the High Court on December 20, 2011 on the ground that such an amendment could not be brought about by a notification. But, it specifically upheld the right of the legislature to lay down the eligibility conditions for the voters to include or exclude a class or category, he added.
Subsequently, the Chief Minister urged Mr. Modi that the Parliament should amend the relevant provisions of the Sikh Gurudwara Act 1925 to bring about the same result that the notification did. He said that to ensure the continuity of the Board, the amendment be specifically made applicable retrospectively from October 8, 2003, the date of the earlier notification.
“All that is required is a procedural correction in giving this notification legislative sanction and form by incorporating it into the Sikh Gurdwara Act through a parliamentary amendment.
JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF 1984 MASSACRE
Raising the issue of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Chief Minister informed Mr. Modi that more than 3000 Sikhs were killed and their properties looted by organized groups belonging to the then ruling party and during these state sponsored massacres the law enforcing agencies under the pressures from their higher ups failed to protect the lives, properties and dignity of the Sikhs in those riots. He said that the successive Congress governments have failed to provide justice to the victims as no proper investigation was carried out adding that to further accentuate the woes of Sikhs the perpetrators of the massacre were rewarded with high constitutional posts by the successive Congress Governments, which thwarted every effort to provide justice.
The Chief Minister urged Mr. Modi to set up a Commission of Inquiry, headed by a Supreme Court judge, for probing the entire conspiracy, including official and political patronage behind the massacre. He said that the Commission should be asked to submit report within six months. Likewise, Mr. Badal also demanded that special Dedicated Courts should be set up to expedite the delivery of justice where FIRs have been registered and challans presented.
The Chief Minister also impressed upon Mr. Modi that all cases pertaining to the massacre that have been closed should be re-investigated and thereafter challans be presented before the Special Dedicated Courts. He also said that all complaints on which no action has been taken should be re-investigated and challans presented to the Special Dedicated Courts. Mr. Badal also impressed upon the Prime Minister to announce a Rehabilitation Package for all the riot victims.
RECRUITMENT TO ARMED FORCES
Raising another vital issue regarding the Recruitment formula for Army, the Chief Minister called upon Mr. Modi that a new formula which makes capability and merit as the sole criterion for selection should be implemented. He said that the recruitment policy to Army was changed to make it on the basis of "Recruitable Male Population” which by-passes the principle of merit adding that the need of the hour was to change this formula so that more and more youth from states like Punjab could join the Armed forces.
CORRIDOR TO KARTARPUR SAHIB ( PAKISTAN)
The Chief Minister also impressed upon Mr. Modi that the GoI should take up the matter with the national government of Pakistan to allow a direct corridor from Dera Baba Nanak (India) to Kartarpur Sahib (Pakistan) to enable the Sikhs to visit this holy place. He apprised the Prime Minister that Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara was a one of the most revered places of Sikhs and was situated just 3 kms away from the International Border on the Pakistan side.
FINANCIAL ISSUES/ DEBT WAIVER
The Chief Minister separately laid focus on the financial issues in a detailed case based on background of problems and fiscal rights of the state.
Strongly pleading for the case of outstanding debt waiver of Rs 1.02 lakh crore on count of militancy, the Chief Minister said that Punjab fought the national battle for which it should not be penalized anymore. Mr. Badal mentioned that he got this debt waived by making personal efforts and request to the then Prime Minister Mr. IK Gujral. He also said that Punjab was a Revenue surplus state till 1982 but due to the burden this debt coupled with Industrial concessions to the neighboring states led to further flight of capital and stopped any fresh investments further accentuated our woes and put our state in the whirlpool of debt trap.
The Chief Minister also impressed upon Mr. Modi for waiver of the centre government loans in view of state’s distressed financial position. Mr. Badal pointed out that the 13th Finance Commission had already placed the states of Punjab, Kerala and West Bengal in the category of Revenue Deficit states and it recommended to the Union government to find out ways and means to bail out these states from financial stringency. Now the Government of India (GoI) has again referred this vital issue to the 14th Finance Commission.
DEFENCE MANUFACTURING UNIT FOR PUNJAB
Making a case for Special Industrial Package for the state, the Chief Minister urged Mr. Modi that Central Public Sector Manufacturing unit should be established in Punjab. He said that unit in the area of production of defense material would be highly in order.
MAKE PUNJAB NATIONAL FOOD PROCESSING HUB
The other area was the food processing in which no major project has been given to the state . it would make sound economic sense and would be
GIVE INDUSTRIAL CONCESSION AT PAR WITH NEIGHBOURING STATES.
Likewise, he said that the state must be given Industrial Concessions at par with those granted to Himachal Pradesh (HP) and J&K. Demanding Freight equalization on industrial raw totally in national interest to set up projects linked with the availability of raw material. Since Punjab was an agrarian state, making it the national hub of processing industry would meet the national economic goals.
Mr. Badal also demanded that Eastern Freight Corridor should be extended from Ludhiana to Amritsar (Attari Border).
Batting for opening of trade through Hussainiwala and Fazilka borders, the Chief Minister apprised Mr. Modi that it would herald a new era of prosperity for the people of this landlocked border state besides promoting peace, brotherhood and people to people contact in the region and opening new vistas of trade with the Central Asia and Pakistan. He also demanded that the items traded through Attari - Wagah International Border should be increased to bring them at par with number of items being traded between Karachi - Mumbai.
Seeking special Financial Package for Holy City of Amritsar, the Chief Minister underlined the need for developing this sacred city on the lines of Varanasi. Similarly, he also sought the establishment of Central University at Amritsar for giving boost to the educational system in the region. Mr. Badal also requested the Prime Minister to set up Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and a Defence University in the state.
Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to eliminate cancer from the state, the Chief Minister also sought a special package worth Rs 200 crore from the centre to tackle this menace. Mr. Badal also urged the Prime Minister to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state, to impart quality Health care services to the residents of Punjab.
Demanding a special Debt Relief Package for the farmers of the state who were already reeling under a debt of Rs. 30,000 Crore, the Chief Minister apprised Mr. Modi that it was the need of the hour as due to the vicious circle of debt the rate of farmers’ suicides was increasing. He also said this package should include compensation for the families of the farmers who had committed suicide due to debt burden. Pleading the case of giving Minimum Support Price (MSP) as per Swaminathan Formula (Cost + 50% profit), Mr. Badal said that this would help in bailing out the distressed peasantry of the country from the agrarian crisis.
The Chief Minister also sought Mr. Modi’s personal intervention for approving the state’s Agriculture Diversification Plan worth Rs 7921 crore, as it would help in making the Agriculture a far more remunerative profession. Likewise, he also urged the Prime Minister that Animal Husbandry should also be included in Agriculture Diversification. Mr. Badal also apprised the Prime Minister that the state government has identified alternate crops like Maize, Agro-Forestry, Fruits & Vegetables, Dairy, Fishery and allied Animal Husbandry sector for encouraging crop diversification in Punjab.
Highlighting the current issue of Drug menace engulfing the state, the Chief Minister solicited the whole hearted support and cooperation from the Union government to eliminate this grave problem. He demanded that effective sealing of the International Border should be done by Para Military Forces to stop the smuggling of drugs from across the border thereby breaking the Narco-terrorism chain. Mr. Badal also sought a consolidated fund of Rs 200 crore for setting up Drug de-addiction centers and other facilities for ensuring rehabilitation of the drug addicted youth.
The Chief Minister also apprised Mr. Modi that the Union government has already sanctioned 53 projects worth Rs 2,519 crore under Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). He also urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the funds for these projects were released expeditiously.
Responding to the various issues raised by both the leaders, Mr. Modi gave a very receptive and positive hearing and said that the GoI soon would consider all these demands on merit.
----balbirsingh227
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