Promising to put the nuts and bolts in place for safe and stable environment for the industry and investors in Punjab, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday made it clear that his Government was working out the mechanics.
Capt Amarinder, maintaining that controlling gangsterism is his top agenda, issued a stern warning to the gangsters and also to the neighbouring warring nation Pakistan, in his own characteristic style, “bande ban jao, nahi taan fer sidhe kar deyaange” (mend your ways, otherwise we will teach you a lesson).
The State Government is currently in under attack of the Opposition parties which has been accusing the Government for “collapsed” the law & order situation in the State with the gangsters “ruling the roost”.
During an interactive session with the NDTV co-chairman Prannoy Roy on the first day of Progressive Punjab Investors Summit (PPIS) 2019, Capt Amarinder talked in detail on all issues concerning the state — right from the no-more-remunerative agriculture to developing industry, from reining in gansgters to ensuring women safety, from controlling deadly drug menace to checking smoldering problem of stubble burning, among others.
Capt also did not let go the opportunity to caution Pakistan of making any attempt to destabilize Punjab, underlining that while its Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted peace, “the Pak Army, in its desperation to remain relevant, is calling the shots and obstructing any efforts for peace”. He said that clear directions have been given to the Punjab Police to handle any internal or external threat with an iron hand. “Punjab police has successfully pushed them back by neutralising various groups infiltrated into the state by the Pak Army backed ISI….Pakistan has its own problems, but I won’t let them make their problems my problem,” he said.
CM pointed that 28 terror modules have been busted and more than 100 ISI-backed terrorists had been arrested by the Punjab Police in the last two years. “We will not let them mess around with us,” he declared.
At the same time, Capt Amarinder informed that steps were also being taken to ensure women safety so that women could take up industrial jobs and do night shifts. “Any woman could call the police for safe transportation back home 24 hours a day,” he clarified.
Listing out steps taken by the Government to facilitate industrial development, Capt Amarinder said that the focus is on providing the right environment to investors and industry to promote Punjab as a preferred destination.
He talked about several decisions taken by his government to improve ease of doing business in the state, including single-window clearances, online applications and approvals, subsidy on industrial power, amendments to key legislations related to business and industry, as well as water regulation.
“Punjab does not have labour problems and the state's educated and committed workforce is a major asset for the industry,” he said adding that the truck unions have been abolished to provide a safe environment for industry to operate.
Stressing on the need to provide continuity to industry to encourage them to invest and expand in Punjab, he maintained that it was essential not to indulge in political vendetta with the Opposition and ensure that any party coming to power maintains the same policy approach to industry.
“Stability is a key component for providing an enabling environment for industrial growth,” he said, hoping that the next Government that takes over the State will also adopt this philosophy.