CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali (SAD) has always fought for rights of Punjab and will continue to do so and the Centre should understand that Punjab will never surrender to its coercive decisions.
This was stated by former MP and Senior Vice President of Shiromani Akali Dal Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra while addressing a press conference here today.
Prof Chandumajra said during last few days the central government had taken decisions which were aimed at pressurizing and humiliating Punjab. He said the Centre wanted to abolish the federal system of the country and replace it with a unitary system of governance. “The centre is usurping the rights of States and Punjab seemed to have become the number one target. Earlier the jurisdiction of BSF was increased and now the centre had abolished the permanent membership of Punjab in BBMB.
Prof Chandumajra said as if this was not enough the centre had now replaced the Punjab security at the Bhakhra dam with CISF. He said this amounted to lack of trust in Punjab. He said it was also shocking that Punjab and Himachal Pradesh would foot the bill for posting of CISF at these dams and these personnel would remain employees of the Centre Government.
Prof. Chandumajra also asserted the central government was yet to refund Rs.1100 crore due to the State on account of Rural Development Fund. He said an impressing was being created that the Centre wanted to teach a lesson to Punjab and this was why it was resorting to arm twisting. He said that though laying down rules and regulations for use of Central grants was the right of the central government but it should not dictate terms to states on how they should spend their own money.
Prof. Chandumajra said that Centre was gradually abolishing rules of Punjab Reorganisation Act in Chandigarh. He said the permanent membership of Punjab in BBMB and implementation of Punjab rules of service for Chandigarh employees were as per Punjab Reorganisation Act but Centre was now creating UT cadre and wanted to grant UT status to Chandigarh permanently even though it was supposed to be a short term measure.
Lashing out at CM Charanjit Channi, Prof. Chandumajra said that it was surprising to see that CM neither replied to a letter of senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar on Punjab issues, neither reacted on it. He said that Akali Dal had welcomed his statement and even now we appeal to all political parties to work on a common platform for safeguarding interests of Punjab.
The Akali leader also said though CM Channi and Aam Admi Party had failed to perform their responsibility towards Punjab but Akali Dal would not be found wanting.
He said the SAD had launched struggles to safeguard the interests of the State and would do so again in case injustices done to Punjab were not removed.
He disclosed that a delegation of the SAD would meet Union Power Minister Mr. RK Singh after his return from Ukraine and would take up the issue of permanent membership of Punjab in BBMB. “ we will chalk out next course of action after assessing outcome of these meetings”, he added.
In this press conference, Senior Vice President of Akali Dal Mr. Harcharan Singh Bains demanded immediate release of Prof. Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and asked AAP Government to act fast in the matter. He also lambasted AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal for painting Prof. Bhullar as a terrorist and said that he had again proved that he was anti sikh and anti Punjabi by deferring the decision on release of Prof. Bhullar. He said the AAP government should not play with sentiments of Sikh community and should order his immediate release.