Issru: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal yesterday asked the UPA government to desist from meddling in the state's affairs.
Addressing a gathering here yesterday to mark the Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Karnail Singh Issru, who laid down his life during the liberation of Goa from the Portuguese, the Chief Minister alleged, "Congress has always tried to exploit the peaceful atmosphere in Punjab."
Accusing Congress for divesting the state from its legitimate share in river waters, Badal said Congress has further rubbed salt in the wounds of Sikhs by allegedly shielding perpetrators of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Criticising the state Congress leadership for making unwarranted hype over Central grants for projects and schemes, the Chief Minister said, "The Centre was not doling out anything special or extraordinary, rather it is our right in return of revenue collected from the state."
Badal said, the state government has made rapid strides in the field of education, healthcare and infrastructure and announced to double the number of beneficiaries of its Atta-Dal scheme from the existing 16 lakh to 32 lakh.
Earlier, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes at the statue of Shaheed Karnail Singh Issru in the village and honoured the widow of Issru, Charanjeet Kaur.
Speaking on the occasion, state Revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia criticised Union Ministers Manish Tewari and Santosh Chaudhary for allegedly indulging in mudslinging over the state government's pro-people schemes.
