Cautioning people against the "divisive policies" of Congress, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today alleged that the party was creating a wedge between Hindus and Sikhs to disturb the peace in the state.
"This policy of Congress had ruined the prosperous state of Punjab in the past...They have proved that leopard can't change its spots. They are resorting to their age-old policy of divide and rule by creating a wedge between Hindus and Sikhs in the state," Badal told reporters here.
"Ever since we assumed power, the SAD-BJP government has worked relentlessly to put the state back on high-growth trajectory...However, the success of the alliance in ushering an era of development and peace is an eyesore for Congress due to which it is hatching conspiracies to disturb its hard earned peace and harmony," he said.
He was interacting with mediapersons after paying tributes to Subedar Bapu Kartar Singh Dhaliwal, father of Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, on his 19th death anniversary.
The five-time CM said, "Massive efforts are being made to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the state with a sole objective of weakening the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)."
Cautioning the people, the Chief Minister said those forces which had pushed Punjab into dark days of terrorism for almost two decades were active once again to bring back the troubled days.
He, however, assured the people that these "disruptive forces" would not be allowed to raise their ugly head again as communal harmony and peace were the basic factors for progress and prosperity in the state.
Expressing concern over the incidents of desecration of holy Guru Granth Sahib in the state, the Chief Minister said these events have tormented the psyche of every human being.
He said the state Cabinet has recently ensured amendment of existing provisions of law for stringent punishment to those behind such incidents of sacrilege as a deterrent to prevent recurrence of such dastardly acts in the future.
Describing the SAD-BJP alliance as everlasting, the
87-year-old Chief Minister said he would preserve the "pious relationship between both the parties."
Asked to comment on the agrarian crisis faced by farmers, Badal said he has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take bold initiatives at the level of the Central government to safeguard the interests of the peasants.
He said the state government has been providing free power worth Rs 5,000 crore to farmers to bail them out from the current crisis.
Badal said to help the farmers affected by crop loss in the state's cotton belt by whitefly pest attack recently, the state government has given them compensation worth Rs 640 crore besides paying Rs 64 crore to farm labourers.
On the recent decisions of the state Cabinet, the Chief Minister said the Council of Ministers has decided to offer nearly 1.14 lakh jobs to youths in 2016, even as various other decisions have been taken for the welfare of different sections of society.
Paying rich tributes to Subedar Bapu Kartar Singh Dhaliwal, the Chief Minister recalled the outstanding services rendered by him towards nation while serving in Army.
He said his immense contribution would go a long way in inspiring the younger generations to inculcate a sense of patriotism and selfless service.
