Amarinder hopes Indo-Pak relations improve, benefit Punjab

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invite to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif for his swearing-in ceremony, Congress MP Amarinder Singh hoped that the relations between the two neighbours will improve thus benefiting Punjab.

Amarinder said with Sharif responding positively, it had sent a positive signal across the sub-continent.

"I hope that the relations between the two countries improve," he said, adding that Punjab would benefit a lot from this.

If the border cities in Punjab, like Amritsar and Ferozepur, have a revival in trade, it will not only extend to Pakistan but right up to Central Asia and Middle East, the Amritsar MP said.

Amarinder also said that during the campaign for Lok Sabha election, he had preached peace between India and Pakistan in the overall interests of the two countries and Punjab also.

The Congress leader expressed hope that the two countries move in trust and confidence.

Replying to a question on the anti-drug drive launched by the SAD government in Punjab, Amarinder said, "If they (the government) have the right intentions, I welcome it. But it won't solve any problem till the big fish is not caught."

On representation of Akali Dal in the Union ministry, he he said that although it was the discretion of the party to nominate its minister, he felt that senior SAD leader Ranjit Singh Brahmpura should have got preference (over Harsimrat Kaur Badal) since he had given his entire life to the party and was one of the senior most leader there.

"However, the Badals are known for that as they cannot look beyond their own family," he said.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and daughter-in-law of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, was elected to Lok Sabha from Bathinda constituency and has been inducted into the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre.