Centre not heeding state’s demands on diversification of crops: Badal

While dubbing as “politically motivated” the Centre’s Food Security scheme,Badal claimed that the UPA had copied the “atta-dal” scheme of the SAD-BJP government. Describing the scheme as “totally absurd”,he said the fate of the proposed Bill to replace the Ordinance seemed to be uncertain.

“Contrary to the food security scheme,the atta-dal scheme of the SAD-BJP government,which has been now copied by the UPA,was running very successfully and with its expansion more and more number of people would be benefited,” Badal said,adding Punjab was the first state to implement this pro-poor scheme.

Earlier,addressing a gathering at the function,the chief minister said that the hard working and resilient farmers of the state were on the crossroads due to the alleged wrong policies of the Centre. Farmers of Punjab were reeling under a huge debt of Rs 32,000 crore due to the wrong policies of the Centre,” said Badal.

Replying to a query,he said the the state government was with the Punjabi farmers of Gujarat,who were facing threat of displacement in Kutch region,adding that efforts were being made to get their problems solved from the Gujarat government.

Integrated education hub

In a major fillip to education in the region,Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday asked officials to prepare a master plan for constructing an “integrated education hub” by optimally utilising 43 acres of land of the local sports college in Kartarpur. “This land must be utilised judiciously by constructing a world class government college,a sports school and a special school to impart quality education to the students of the region,” he added.