Rakhra (Patiala): Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state government was making persistent efforts with the Centre to bring back the books, rare manuscripts and other artifacts taken away by the Indian Army from Sikh Reference Library in Amritsar during the Operation Blue Star.
He said these rare artefacts were of immense historical and religious significance for each and every Sikh and there have been constant vigorous efforts to bring these valuable back to the state.
“We will further intensify our efforts to bring these valuable articles snatched away from us during the operation blue star back to the state,” Badal said. The Chief Minister said that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) would vehemently raise these issues with the centre.
He bemoaned that time and again the successive Congress led governments at the centre had done grave injustice with the state by denying its capital, legitimate share in river waters and even the Punjabi speaking areas.
Renewing his firm pledge to get back the Punjabi speaking areas and Chandigarh, the Chief Minister said that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) would vehemently raise these issues with the centre.
He said there was hardly any example in the country where the parent state has been denied of its capital, after the formation of linguistic states, other than Punjab.
On referring the Land Ordinance Bill to Joint Parliamentary Committee, the Chief Minister said that Punjab model of land acquisition was the best in the country and it should be replicated at the national level.
He said that the clauses of consent, adequate compensation and rehabilitation of the farmers were must so as to devise any pro-farmer land acquisition bill.
“A farmer loves his land far more than his child so it should not be taken away in any case without his express consent,” he added.
He reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to maintain law and order in the state at every cost. He said that sporadic incidents of law and order problem were persistent in every state and even the advanced countries like USA were also not aloof from it.
On the issue of appointment of Tara Singh as the Chief of Management Board at Takht Sri Hazur sahib, the Chief Minister said that it has hurt the Sikh psyche, as every Sikh was against the political interference in their religious affairs. Badal said that he had already brought this issue in the knowledge of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devinder Fadnavis.
“I am confident that issue will be resolved soon,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that in a short span of its rule the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given several key projects to the state, which would be instrumental in putting the state further on high growth trajectory.
He said that Sri Amritsar Sahib the holy city of the state has been chosen as heritage city under the ‘HRIDAY' scheme, which would ensure flow of central assistance worth hundred crores of rupees for its development.
Likewise, Badal said that Jallianwala Bagh has been included amongst Cultural World Heritage Site to receive special assistance for improving the infrastructure.
The Chief Minister also hailed the NDA government for allocating prestigious projects like All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Post Graduate Horticulture Research and Educational Institute.
