Kharar, April 21: Even as he lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for trying to destroy India’s unique strength of diversity with their divisive politics, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday denied being soft on the Badals and asserted that he would not spare anyone found guilty, as per law, of any crime against the people of his state.
TWITTER CHAUPAL: CAPT DENIES BEING SOFT ON BADALS, SAYS ANYONE FOUND GUILTY WOULD FACE CONSEQUENCES AS PER LAW
Even if Prakash Singh Badal is found guilty, he will be punished, said Captain Amarinder, but reiterated that he would follow the due process of law, in accordance with Constitutional norms. They will have to face the consequences of their actions, if found responsible, he added.
“I believe in the Constitution and the rule of law, and am totally against politics of vendetta,” he declared, pointing out that even in his previous term, it was not he but the courts that had put Badal behind the bars.
The Chief Minister expressed his anger and anguish at the remarks of Sadhvi Pragya against a distinguished police officer like Hemant Karkare. What the Sadhvi said was totally unacceptable, he said, also lashing out at the BJP for politicization of the armed forces, who are fighting for the nation as a neutral and united force.
Sitting under a peepal tree in Village Chuahr Majra, Kharar, a little less than 20 kms from Chandigarh, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh took a wide range of questions received on Twitter and directly from people who had come to take part in the #TwitterChaupal organized in association with @TwitterIndia.
The #CaptainDiChaupal saw people from all walks of life, and from regions as far as Ludhiana, brave the afternoon heat to question their chief minister on a variety of subjects, ranging from agriculture to education, health, politics, sports and infrastructure, and of course some personal ones. The Chief Minister responded to all the questions in his usual candid and forthright manner.
Had he not been in politics, he would have remained in the Army and would by now have retired from there, said Captain Amarinder, in response to an interesting question tweeted by his young party colleague, Sachin Pilot.
And, no, he did not have any national aspirations, and had always wanted to remain in Punjab politics, he responded to another personal Twitter question, pointing out that the two times he had become member of Parliament he had resigned in the interest of Punjab.
“My only wish is that everyone in Punjab should be happy, the state should be free of drugs and unemployment, there should be prosperity. That is my ideal Punjab and if we get the time, we will ensure that this dream is achieved.” said the Chief Minister.
Asked if he would contest again in 2022, the Chief Minister said he hoped the ideal Punjab would have become a reality by the time his current term ends, and he would be able to hand the reins to the young generation, unless the state still needs him in three years.
The Chief Minister agreed with a young university student who lamented the spread of drugs and the fact that youth were going abroad for jobs, and said his government was committed to generating jobs. As industry comes, things will improve, he said, observing that in sharp contrast to the SAD-BJP government’s Rs 25000 crore worth of investment in 10 years, his government had, in just two years, succeeded in bringing Rs 65000 crore worth of projects, of which 75% had already been realised on the ground.
CM ASKS GOVT. EMPLOYEES TO BEAR WITH HIM TILL FISCAL SITUATION IMPROVES, PROMISES EVENTUAL FULFILMENT OF DEMANDS
Asked why his government was not able to generate enough jobs and had to depend on the private sector, he clarified that the scope for creation of jobs by the government was limited. However, the government was doing its best to facilitate employment through skill development etc, he said, pointing out that more 800 youth were getting jobs or self-employment opportunities every day, on an average, and the number was continuously rising.
On the issue of drugs, Captain Amarinder said his government was enforcing the anti-drugs campaign strictly, with the help of the STF, and more than 28000 drug peddlers had been arrested. Enforcement and treatment were the two kinds of pressures being put by his government to eliminate the menace completely, he said. Smuggling of drugs into Punjab from regions as far as Kashmir and Gujarat made the task difficult but the police was working closely with the police forces of other northern states to put an end to the problem, he added.
Captain Amarinder reassured another questioner that as revenues grew, his government would increase the farm debt waiver amount to bring an end to the woes of the farmers of the state.
He also promised that the problems of government employees would be taken up on priority and their demands would be fulfilled as the state’s finances improve. “They will have to bear with us for the time being,” he added.
To a question on the status of the promised smart phones for youth, the Chief Minister said a tender had already been floated for distribution of 3.5 lakh phones in the first phase and the process would commence after the elections.
Asked about the STF probe into the sacrilege cases following the EC orders to shift out Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, the Chief Minister said his government had approached the Election Commission for a review of its decision. Normally, courts do not intervene in election matters, he said, explaining why the government was not moving the court against the EC orders.
On the Tandarust Punjab mission of his government, the Chief Minister said the number of wellness clinics would soon be tripled, with the aim of ensuring health checks for the citizens from their childhood
His government would welcome the film industry and extend to them all possible support if they wanted to set up studios in Punjab, he said in response to another question, patiently listening to every questioner.
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