Patil applauds state’s law and order situation
Tuesday, 12/03/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130312/punjab.htm#1
Chandigarh : In his address to the Vidhan Sabha, Punjab Governor Shivraj V Patil today said that the state government had always ensured the best law and order situation in the country. He highlighted the recent demands of the state on a Rs 5,000 crore package for crop diversification, compensation for losses on account of flight of capital to neighbouring states because of concessions granted to them and the need to give states a free hand to choose and finance their development priorities.
The Governor lamented that Chandigarh had not been transferred to Punjab despite a “sacred commitment” in Parliament in 1985. He demanded that Chandigarh as well as Punjabi-speaking areas be transferred to the state immediately. He cited the ‘inhuman’ massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi in 1984 and called for exemplary punishment to the guilty and comprehensive relief for the families of the victims.
Patil said the government was opposed to a national river water policy that violated the riparian principle, adding that the state had been meted out grave injustice on the issue.
The Governor said the people in the state were convinced of the sincerity of purpose of the government and, hence, had given a resounding verdict in its favour in the recent Moga byelection. He said the victory was not an exception as the SAD-BJP alliance had registered a thumping win in the Dasuya byelection earlier.
He said owing to the people’s faith in the policies and programmes of the alliance, it had also turned victorious in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSMC) elections.
The Governor refused to own the government while reading out the Address. The words “my government” came up more than 35 times in the 55-page speech. He replaced these each time with “the government”. He refused to end the Address by lavishing praise on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He did not read out the sentence “It is the great fortune of my state that in this great march, it is spearheaded by one of the tallest statesmen of the country in living history and a visionary of iconic stature, S Parkash Singh Badal” in full form.
He not only cut short the epithets, but also introduced his own, stating “it is spearheaded by one of the most mature statesmen of the country".
Governor’s address
Patil demands that Chandigarh and Punjabi-speaking areas be transferred to state
Calls for exemplary punishment to those behind 1984 riots and relief for victims
Says govt opposed to a national river water policy that violates riparian principle
Says convinced of government's sincerity, the people had given a mandate in its favour in the Moga bypoll
Despite the fact that the words "my government" came up more than 35 times in the 55-page speech, the Governor replaced these with "the government" each time
On the sidelines...
When the new PPCC president, Partap Singh Bajwa, entered the assembly, Congress MLAs greeted him with the thumping of desks. "We welcome you to the House," said the Chief Minister.
Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia sat behind Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. He usually occupies the seat in the front row. A young Congress legislator remarked: " The two Badals, senior as well as junior, will now be able to keep the rebel under control".
Certain bureaucrats in the visitors' gallery did not stand up for the national anthem at the end of the day's proceedings. An officer said: "The anthem was meant only for those directly concerned with the conduct of the House affairs." But a colleague of his pointed out that information on the MHA website clearly stated that whenever the anthem was sung/played, the "audience shall stand to attention."
