Cong Govt discriminating against Mansa region, alleges SAD

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Friday said that the Congress Government was discriminating against Mansa region by delaying sanctions needed for start of work on the prestigious AIIMS project besides stopping work on construction of irrigation channels.

Sukhbir, addressing a public gathering along with Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, said that the AIIMS project in Bathinda had been delayed because the Congress Government did not give the requisite NOCs.

“Similarly, while most of the work on construction of irrigation channels worth around Rs 800 crore had been completed during SAD-BJP tenure, the leftover work has been stopped now,” he said, adding that in fact the trade and commerce has been affected in Bathinda parliamentary constituency due to enforcement of goonda tax in the name of Jojo Service Tax (JST).

“No action has been taken against those enforcing this tax despite a direct order from the Chief Minister,” he added.

Sukhbir told the police officials not to victimise Akali workers at the instance of Congress leaders. “False cases were registered against four Akali sarpanches and even young boys were not being spared. Those doing this should be ready for legal action against them,” he warned.

Union Food Processing Minister and Bathinda MP said that the Congress Government, which had already stopped all social benefits to the people be it old age pension or Shagun scheme, had now told the Niti Aayog that it would not procure the forthcoming wheat crop from farmers if it was not given Rs 1,000 crore immediately.

Stating that the government was befooling people by stating that its treasury was empty, he said that the government should tell where the money collected in the form of taxes as well as from excise, GST, power and registration charges had gone.

Harsimrat said that far from doing anything, the Congress government was not even utilising money received from the Centre under the NREGA scheme. “Congress government is not even taking advantage of the SAMPADA scheme of my Ministry, under which Rs 6,000 crore would be distributed to farmers to set up food processing units,” she said.

Harsimrat also announced setting up of an Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology Centre at Bathinda which trains students on how to add value to good produce. “The trainees would get 35 percent subsidy for establishing their own units and tie-ups would be made so that they can market their produce,” she said.

Interacting with media later, Harsimrat said that she had held a successful meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a day before and enjoined him to link Toronto and Amritsar with an Air Canada flight.

Senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhundur highlighted the atrocities being committed by Congress leaders in league with the police against Akali workers. He said that the SAD would not tolerate this and would protest vigorously against any injustice.