'Will not allow militancy to raise its head again'

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday said his government would not allow militancy to raise its head again in the state.

"Punjab government is keeping an eye on troublemakers and during the past five years Punjab Police have busted three major militant modules and prevented major militant strikes," he said while talking to reporters here.

Badal, who was here along with his wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal to pay obeisance at Golden Temple, said the Centre was not performing its duty by not raising the modernisation grant for Punjab Police, though Punjab is a border state.

Speaking on development issues, Badal said a comprehensive plan had been approved for Amritsar to put it on international tourism circuit. "On completion of this plan, you would not be able to recognise Amritsar city," he said.

Reviewing the progress of Golden Temple Plaza, he said it would be completed by the end of this year.

Badal said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has finalised several schemes for welfare and betterment of poor.

"In a few days the Chief Minister would unveil a Cashless Insurance policy for the ongoing Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries, under which they would get free treatment of up to Rs 30,000 in various private hospitals earmarked by the government," he said.

The government is also going to distribute scholarship of Rs 30,000 to meritorious students from poor families, he added.