Coming down heavily on the Akalis, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday said that they have always used the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as a “pawn” on their political chessboard.
“In 1996, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had an alliance with the BSP; but the very next year, they ditched BSP and joined the BJP,” said Channi adding that after getting a taste of their own medicine from the BJP, the Akalis have now again come around to have a truck with the BSP.
Channi, mincing no words, said that this time too, the Akalis are up to their old devious political game and have given such seats to the BSP like Hoshiarpur and Pathankot from where they have never themselves won. “Secretly, the SAD is still hand in glove with the BJP,” he added.
Exhorting the Bahujan Samaj to unite under the banner of Congress party, the Chief Minister said: “There is rule of Bahujan Samaj in Punjab now.”
In Jalandhar, Channi went all out to woo Doaba region of the State, calling it the ‘heart of Punjab’. Channi vowed to transform it into a frontline part of the State by according top priority to the development-centric projects here, especially in the Adampur constituency.
As part of his commitment to ensure accelerated progress in Adampur, the Chief Minister announced Rs 19 crore for the development works of the infrastructural nature.
Channi said that out of the above said Rs 19 crore, Rs nine crore have been earmarked for the strengthening, widening, four-laning of the roads besides Rs 10 crore have been placed at the disposal of Mohinder Singh Kaypee for carrying out development-centric works of any kind.
In response to the demand put forward by Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training chairman (cabinet rank) Mohinder Singh Kaypee about giving Sub-Division status to Adampur, Channi announced to conduct a survey very soon to explore the viability of the demand.
The Chief Minister also announced that he was ready to concede the demand of opening a Degree College in Adampur provided the availability of dive to 10 acres of land along a big road.
Likewise, the Chief Minister also said that the road leading towards the Adampur airport would be named after Guru Ravidass Ji and the proposal to name the airport after Guru Ravidass Ji would be sent to the Union Government. “The Kshatriya Rajputs would be again accorded the status of General Category,” he said in response to another demand.
Listing landmark steps undertaken by his Government for the benefit of all the sections of the society, the Chief Minister said that domestic power rates have reduced by Rs three per unit with the facility of free 200 units to 21 lakh families to continue as before, ownership rights under ‘Mera Ghar Mere Naam’ scheme given to residents living under Lal Lakir in urban and rural areas, one lakh jobs to be provided with process already underway, farm motor bills waived off giving respite to the tune of Rs 1,200 crore to the farmers, water charges fixed at flat Rs 50, besides many more pro people initiatives.
CM KICKSTARTS RS 157.96 CR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AT ADAMPUR
Chief Minister Channi on Monday laid the foundation stones of seven development projects, including four-laning of approach road to local airport, and concrete lining of Bist Doab Canal, to take the region's growth to a new level.
The bouquet of projects, with a total cost of Rs 157.96 crore, also includes laying foundation stone of cricket stadium, renovation of bus stand, development of city centre and water supply and sewerage project besides laying foundation of Saragarhi Stadium at Damunda village.
In addition, the Chief Minister also announced that the approach road to Airport would be connected to Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur National Highway having a total stretch of 5.55 km along with Bist Doab canal.
In another major project to provide potable drinking water to Jalandhar Municipal Corporation with a daily capacity 113 cusec up to 2036 and 150 cusec till 2051, Channi said that this project to be completed at a cost of Rs 81.95 crore.
Fulfilling another major demand of people of this region, Channi also laid the foundation stone of a 17-km long sewerage line at a cost of Rs 10.44 crore, which would also ensure basic amenities including house connections to nearly 4,000 households. The project will be completed by August 2022 as the work is all set to start within a few days.
The City Centre project will be completed at a cost of Rs 20.85 crore, spread over 36 kanals, said the Chief Minister adding that this would be one of the state-of-the-art project having 400 shops, 100 booths, underground parking, lift facility besides Ambedkar Bhawan. Having an ample parking space, the project will certainly solve the traffic congestion in the city area, he added.
Laying the foundation stone of a cricket stadium with capacity of 5000 seats, he said that this stadium would promote sports amongst youngsters. Likewise, the Adampur Bus Stand will also be transformed to a modern one having facilities booths for street vendors, public conveniences, ramps etc.