CHANDIGARH:Punjab Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal today met the Union Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh and urged him to approve the establishment of two additional Sainik Schools in Punjab.
Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal stated that Punjab is the most decorated state in India in terms of military honors and gallantry awards. The state next in line after Punjab accounts for less than half of the honors bagged by Punjab soldiers. However, Punjab has only one Sainik School in Kapurthala, and the state is now seeking the establishment of two more Sainik schools- one in Gurdaspur and the other in Bathinda. The Finance Minister stated that other states like Haryana, Bihar, and Maharashtra have two Sainik Schools each, while Uttar Pradesh has three.
The Union Defence Minister assured him of due and adequate action, stating that he personally appreciates the role played by Sikhs and Punjabis in the defense of national security and the defense of India’s social and cultural values.
While thanking the Minister of Defence for his time and words of appreciation for Punjab, the Punjab Finance Minister also presented a letter by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to the Union Defence Minister, stating that the state government has allocated 40 acres of land at Dalla Gorian in Gurdaspur for the Sainik School. However, Punjab desires another Sainik school that could be established in Bathinda. This way, each of the three regions in Punjab, Doaba, Majha, and Malwa, will host one Sainik School.
Mr. Badal also requested the approval of the Ministry of Defence for issuing an official clearance for establishing a modern bus station and terminal at Bathinda. Since the proposed location is adjacent to the Bathinda military cantonment, it requires a formal “No Objection Certificate” from the Defence Ministry. The Punjab Finance Minister added that all required military norms had been adhered to, and a clear passage of 100 metres has been left from the military boundary. Similarly, the proposed bus terminus is well below the officially prescribed height for adjacent buildings. The required papers for the NOC have been submitted to the Defence Headquarters, and an early approval will help expedite the project.
The Punjab Finance Minister also invited the Defence Minister to visit the Punjab War Heroes Memorial and Museum at Amritsar, which the Punjab government has established at the cost of Rs.144 crore.