Though Assembly elections are almost a year away, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday appealed the people of State to vote on the performance of SAD-BJP combine in 2017 and assured that State will witness a complete transformation in urban and rural infrastructure besides basic amenities.
Addressing a state level function here to distribute the enhanced pensions to beneficiaries, Badal said the Punjab Government had given utmost priority to inclusive development and maintain communal harmony in the state. He exhorted the people to use their franchise by comparing the SAD-BJP and other governments.
The Deputy CM said a study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi has shown the mirror to the anti-Punjab forces who were indulged in defaming the state by declaring 70% youth as druggists. The study shows that out of the total 2.77 crore population in the state, only 0.06% were found using drugs, which is least percentage across the nation. He said the anti-Punjab deliberate campaign was launched by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi who declared Punjabi youth as druggist by distorting the facts.
Replying to a question while interacting with media to bear the expenses incurred to neutralize the terrorists at Pathankot, the Deputy Chief Minister said the defence of the Indian territory falls under the Union Government and centre should bear the expenses.
He also announced that all types of pensions would be distributed to the beneficiaries before 15th of every month. The state government had reserved Rs. 1,000 crore for timely disbursal of all pensions which would facilitate more than 17 lakh beneficiaries.
Badal added that in addition to implementing social welfare schemes, the Punjab Government has created best infrastructure for power generation, health, education and road connectivity. Achieving power surplus status is also one of the major achievements of the SAD-BJP government, he added.
Those present on the occasion included CPS K.D.Bhandari and Avinash Chandar, former ministers Manoranjan Kalia and Sarwan Singh Phillaur, MlA and others.