Union Food Processing Industry Minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday asked the Congress Government why it had started discrimination against Bathinda and the Malwa region by deciding to close down the Maharaja Ranjit Singh State Technical University (MRSTU) immediately after coming to power.
Harsimrat, referring to news reports stating that that the Congress Government had initiated the process to revoke the previous SAD-BJP Government's decision to set up the MRSTU at Bathinda, said that setting up of this institution was a well-planned move aimed at giving a much needed boost to technical education in the Malwa region.
“The previous Government took this step following expert advice that there was a need to broadband the technical institution footprint across the State. This was also in consonance with the Skill India programme,” she said.
The aim was to give a major boost to skill development through this University and consequently make our youth employable, she said adding that closing down the Varsity will adversely affect our youth.
Stating that the move to close down the varsity was part of the vendetta politics unleashed by the Congress in the State, Harsimrat said that it was strange that an institution which had been made financially viable and was under construction was being closed.
She said that Finance Minister Manpreet Badal also had a responsibility towards Bathinda which he also represented as legislator of the city seat. “Manpreet had promised development of Bathinda. But till now, he has not brought a single project to Bathinda. Manpreet should stop focusing on red light removals alone and speak out about what he is doing for Bathinda and what he would do to keep the technical university in the area,” he added.
“Manpreet should also explain why Bathinda district is facing power cuts now and why interest on cooperative loans have been increased…People are still waiting for fulfilment of poll promises whose goal post has been shifted to three months because the Government has no game plan for their implementation,” she added.
Making it clear that the SAD would not sit idle in the face of any discrimination against Bathinda, the local MP said: “We will start a people's movement against this move.”
“Parents will ask Congress legislators of the area as to why they are denying their children a chance at acquiring quality technical education and a chance at success in life. I will also take up this issue at all levels to ensure the character of MRSTU is not changed under any circumstances,” she added.