Cong looted country: Badal

Holding fully responsible the Congress party for doing injustice to Punjab, BadaL said that the state had lost its capital, Punjabi speaking areas and water due to follies of the Punjab Congress leaders. Punjab suffered discrimination on each and every front and no heavy industry was installed in Punjab in the past years. He said that the economic condition of Punjab farmers was ruined under deep conspiracy by the Congress party.

The Chief Minister said that Balwant Singh Ramoowalia had always worked against the interests of Punjab and put hurdles in the waiving of loans of Punjab. He said that Ramoowalia was again misleading the people saying that the loan of Punjab had not been waived. He made it clear that Punjab now was fully free from debt of Rs.8400 crore and complimented I.K. Gujral for taking bold decision despite pressures from the Congress Party and the persons like Ramoowalia.

Badal claimed said that Punjab has undertaken massive development of the state through various revolutionary programmes. The focal point scheme was under fast implementation which could change the fortune of rural Punjab. He urged the people to constitute vigilance committees in their villages to supervise the development works. He said that a category facilities and subsidy would be given for setting up industry in the focal point.

He said to upgrade the village school and also assured to meet other demands of the village.

Finance Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh while speaking on the occasion, said that the Punjab government had give concessions to the tune of Rs. 2000 crores in the last 16 months.He announced the launching of matching grant scheme for the development of villages under which 50 per cent share would be contributed each by the government and village panchayat. Amrik Singh Aliwal, MP and Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, MLA while welcoming the guests presented various demands of the area.

That the fair in the memory of Pir Gilani provided the political parties with an opportunity to draw mileage was evident from a curious realignment of political parties with divergent views coming together and sharing the same stage.

Gathering listned to former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia’S rhetorical Akali bashing. Sharing the stage with him were former Minister Malkiat Singh Dakha of Congress with many other prominent Congressmen as well as Akali Dal (Mann) activists Sukhjinder Singh and Charan Singh Lohara.

In his speech Ramoowalia claimed that the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister had refused to concede the demand of Akali Dal leaders on Udham Singh Nagar during their meeting on July 7.