SAD-BJP govt neglected historical towns, fails on its promise of religious tourism: Bajwa

Wednesday, 21/08/2013

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/punjab/sad-bjp-govt-neglected-historical-towns-fails-on-its-promise-of-religious-tourism-bajwa/85248

BABA BAKALA: Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today blamed the SAD-BJP government for ignoring the historical towns of Punjab in matter of development and making false promises on promoting religious tourism in the state.

Addressing a mammoth gathering of Sikh devotees here at historical Rakhar-Punia festival, Bajwa congratulated the people of Punjab and Sikhs in particular on this auspicious occasion. He said that Punjab had a rich heritage of religion and culture. “Unfortunately, the all town of religious and historical importance are in state of neglect”, he added and said it was duty of the present government to project the Punjab’s rich heritage for tourism purposes at international level. He stated that religious tourism had a great potential in Punjab but SAD-BJP Government had no vision in this direction.

Bajwa said that SAD-BJP government had come to power on false promises made to people and all sections of society are frustrated from its poor performance. He said that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had lost control over administration and his son Deputy Chief Minister was misusing the mandate of people to promote his family business in transport, liquor and real estate. He held Sukhbir responsible for shielding sand mafia and creating monopoly in every business.

“Sukhbir Badal is leading the Punjab towards disaster”, Bajwa warned and said that economy of state was in such a bad shape that salaries were not paid to government employees for the month of July.  He referred to media reports that Punjab government had already exhausted its limit of overdraft from Reserve Bank of India. It was a state of economic emergency and a step short of total bankruptcy. He said that state government had sought a loan of Rs.1000 crores from Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) against the government lands transferred to it for infrastructure development. The cabinet in its last meeting had also asked PUDA to obtain a loan of Rs.1000 crores to fund the widening of state highways and toll system will be implemented almost on all roads in the state.

PPCC President said that SAD-BJP government was imposing heavy taxes on the people and still they are not able to manage the economy of state. He said that recent hikes in power tariff, bus fares, stamp duty, VAT and property tax were direct burden on the people. The Badal government had imposed taxes of about Rs.2000 crores immediately after the budget was presented in Vidhan Sabha and burden of another Rs.2000 crores was imposed by revision in tariffs and VAT.

Bajwa said that as a result of heavy tax structure and poor law and order in Punjab industry was shifting out of state. SAD-BJP government which at one stage accused the UPA government at center for exodus of industry from Punjab was not engaged in campaign to probe that no industry had shifted out of Punjab. He said that Congress party had always taken stand on important issues and exposed the misdeeds of Badal family. He said that Congress stood by its claim that big industrial houses in Punjab were expanding its units in other states. In the last five years 274 industrial units had shifted to other states, he added.

Bajwa said that SAD-BJP had failed to wake up to flood fury in Punjab. Thousands of people were marooned and villages were inundated with flood waters and no government help reached them for days together. Only after Congress party raised the matter in media, the government machinery was activated. He reiterated demand for Rs.25,000 per acre for full damage and Rs.15,000 per acre for partial damage of crops.

PPCC President said that illegal sand mining had patronage of Badal family and sand mafia was exploiting the mines without auction. He said that it was direct loss to revenue of state and danger to environment. The illegal mining is one of the major reasons for floods in Punjab, he added and blamed Badal for not pushing for auction of sand mines rather finding illegal means to block the auctions.

Others who spoke on occasion included Harish Chaudhary Secretary AICC and incharge of Punjab Affairs, O.P.Soni Vice President PPCC, Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa General Secretary PPCC, Jasbir Singh Dimpa, Sardul Singh, Ranjit Singh Chhajjalwindi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Gurchet Singh Bhullar, Harminder Singh Jassi, Dr.Dharampal Agnihotri, Sukhdev Singh Shehbazpuri, Harpartap Singh Ajnala, Vikas Soni, Sunil Dutti, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Inderjit Singh Jeera.