SAD-BJP flock united: CM

Badal was reacting to the recent statement of state Congress vice-president and former Minister Lal Singh claiming some SAD-BJP combine MLAs were in touch with the Congress and were ready to shift their allegiance any time.

Lal Singh was a senior politician and such statements were not expected from him,the Chief Minister told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Badal slammed Punjab Congress chief and former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for what he said his “illogical statements” in the media. He said these statements were the outcome of mounting frustration within the rank and file of the Congress party and its impending defeat in next year’s state assembly polls.

The SAD patriarch also lashed out at the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre alleging it was adopting a discriminatory attitude towards Punjab.

“They are bent on retarding the pace of development in the state. Punjab has been denied due share in Centrally-sponsored schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana and the National Food Mission,” he said,adding,“Strict parameters laid down by the Centre made our state ineligible for Central grants.”

He said any decision to create new districts in the state would be taken on recommendations of the Sukhbir-Tikshan Sud committee.

The Chief Minister said the committee had been asked to submit its report immediately to enable the Cabinet to take a final decision on creation of new districts in the state.

Badal said he had cleared the file on upgradation of three Municipal Councils to Corporations in Phagwara,Moga and Pathankot.

Taking cognisance of inadequate supply of urea in some parts of the state,Badal said the administration had allowed members of cooperative societies to buy it from open market by taking money from the societies for the current Kharif season.