Punjab CM for recasting constitution as envisaged by Dr Ambedkar

Ludhiana, January 26, 2014: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the Centre to recast the Indian Constitution to ensure the implementation of the spirit of federalism as envisaged by its founding fathers led by Baba Sahib Dr BR Ambedkar.
Addressing the gathering after unfurling the national tri-colour here at Guru Nanak Stadium on the occasion of 65th Republic Day, the Chief Minister said that with the passage of time the Centre was gradually encroaching upon the rights of states as enshrined in the state list, like Agriculture, Health and Education, of Constitution thereby drifting away from the basic essence of Federalism to unitary character. He said, “It is pitiable condition of the states which are merely relegated to the position of subordinates to discharge trivial functions for instance transferring a District Agriculture Officer from Ludhiana to Jalandhar and vice versa whereas it has no control over the significant issues related to the welfare of farmers such as fixation of the rates of agriculture inputs and the corresponding MSP of the crops”.
The Chief Minister bemoaned the very soul and spirit of the Indian constitution as infused by its architect Dr. Ambedkar has been taken out deliberately by the Centre to weaken the states on one hand and dilute its federal character on the other. Shaking the conscious of policy makers at the helms of affairs in national capital, he asked them to shun away the decades long practice of arbitrarily doling grants to its favorites at the cost of discriminating the others like Punjab adding he said, “It is the high time now to awake from deep slumber to sanction central grants liberally without any riders thereby respecting the very sanctity of Indian constitution”.       
The Chief Minister emphasised the need for thorough introspection to ascertain the correct position where the Centre has failed to implement the basic spirit of sacred constitution as enshrined in its preamble stipulating a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic, whereas in contravention to this dictum the Union government has failed on all fronts in terms of safeguarding the nation’s integrity from internal as well as external aggression adding that its inability to uphold the ethos of secularism, communal harmony and amity across the country. On the other hand he lauded the Punjabis for maintaining peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state despite stiff provocation from its hostile neighbor bordering Pakistan. Badal slammed the Centre for Punjab being constantly ignored and being targeted for Government of India’s (GoI’s) apathy best known to it. Centre’s discriminatory attitude has once again deprived Punjab of its due share of Industrial Concessions being extended for another term of five years to the neighboring states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkhand. He categorically said that we were not against giving these concessions to our neighbors but at the same time they were equally concerned for sanctioning these incentives to Punjab, where Industry was now its lifeline especially when our main stay agriculture has reached a plateau.
The Chief Minister lamented that the state government has initiated efforts on its own to woo the country’s top business tycoons to invest in Punjab but this negativity on the part of Union would certainly derail our efforts to put Punjab on track of Industrialization. He said that by organising the progressive Punjab Investor’s Summit recently the state government has garnered an investment worth Rs 65000 crore for Punjab but the Centre’s fatal move would adversely impact the investment sentiment in the state. Making a fervent appeal to the centre, Badal impressed upon the GoI to review its policy of sanctioning industrial incentives to hilly states by according a similar package to Punjab to strengthen its industrial base.
The Chief Minister reminded the centre of enormous contribution of Punjabis’s in the national freedom struggle. Citing that above 80% people who were either martyred, exiled or imprisoned for life term were Punjabis, he said our brave Punjabi soldiers have ever safeguarded the integrity of country from external aggression and internal disturbances besides the hard working and resilient Punjabi farmers made the country self reliant in food production despite having just 2.5% of country’s total area. Mr. Badal said that Punjab was the land of Gurus, Saints and Seers and we the Punjabis have inherited an indomitable spirit of self sacrifice from our great gurus Sri Guru Arjun Dev, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur and Sri Guru Gobind Singh. The Chief Minister said that Punjabis were all the more proud for this sacred land from where the pivotal movements of freedom struggle like Kuka, Pagri Sambhal, Ghadar, Gurudwara Reform, Babbar Akali and others were spearheaded. Badal said that despite Punjab’s outstanding track record in every field, it has been deliberately ignored from giving its due status and recognition for its rare feet, which was nothing but a sheer humiliation for the entire country       
The Chief Minister said that the state government was committed for the welfare of all sections of the society especially the poor and the disadvantaged ones. He said that the state government has come out with several pro-poor welfare schemes such as the widening the ambit of Atta-Dal scheme from existing 16 to 32 lakh beneficiary families, grant of Rs 2500 per month as scholarship to the poor and bright students under Dr Hargobind Khurana scheme, free bicycles to girl students under Mai Bhago Istri Vidya Scheme, Cashless cancer treatment scheme, Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana and others. Badal said that despite of limited resources the state has performed extremely well in the core sectors of Health and Education where Punjab has been ranked number one and rated excellent in these fields respectively.              
Earlier, the Chief Minister took salute from an impressive parade comprising the contingents of Punjab Police, Home Guards, PAP, Police Band, NCC, Bharat Scouts and Guides led by DSPs Amandeep Singh and Jasbir Singh.
The Chief Minister also gave away tricycles to the physically challenged and sewing machines to the poor and needy women. A colorful variety program by the school children besides a mass PT show by the tiny tots regaled the audience. Later on the Chief Minister also flagged off a series of Tableaux depicting the overall development of the state especially the district administration. On the occasion, the Chief Minister honored ten renowned personalities in recognition to their outstanding performance in their respective fields.  
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Advisor on National Affairs and Media Harcharan Bains, Advisor Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Chairman District Planning Committee Hira Singh Gabria, his Special Principal Secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh besides several eminent personalities from different walks of life and leaders and workers of SAD-BJP alliance.   // ludhiana news online, ludhiana news in English, ludhiana news, ludhiana current news, ludhiana news live, Ludhiana breaking news, Ludhiana headlines, Ludhiana latest news, punjab news, india news, world news,

http://cityairnews.com/