SUJANPUR: Partap Singh Bajwa President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has said that illegal mining of sand and gravel in Punjab had patronage of ruling SAD-BJP alliance and police has become a tool in the hands of mining mafia. He requested the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court to take suo moto notice of political connivance in illegal mining.
Addressing a meeting of party workers here Bajwa said that illegal mining was rampant in Pathankot and surrounding areas mainly in bed of Ravi River and Chakki rivulet. He said that sand in other districts too the illegal mining was being carried out under police protection. He said that SAD-BJP leaders were making good fortune from the illegal mining whereas the common people were suffering. He said that development works and housing projects in the state were at stand still due to inflated rates of sand and gravel, many construction companies had abandoned the major road and building projects. He said that BJP was hand in glove with SAD in this loot.
Mr.Bajwa said that BJP was fully responsible for imposition of taxes on urban people and introduction of e-trip system of tax collection. He said that BJP ministers in the SAD-BJP government had never opposed the proposals of e-trip, property tax , power tariff hike and hefty fee on regularization of illegal colonies. He said that property tax was reduced under pressure from Congress party. He said that Congress would continue its agitation against other anti-people proposals.
PPCC President said that SAD-BJP government had made false promises with industry and trade beside other sections of people to win the last assembly elections. He said that Rs.400 crore refund of VAT was still pending with the government and present government has tightened the noose around neck of businessmen making it difficult for them to survive the competition. He said that in the industrial policy, the SAD-BJP government had not given any relief to existing industry. Industry was shifting to other states, he added.
Bajwa said that he had demanded from center government to give special industrial package for border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilika in the larger interests of Punjab. He said that land and water were available in plenty at low cost in these districts as compared to developed districts like Ludhiana and Mohali. He said that if special package is given to border districts, the industry from Ludhiana and Mohali would relocate and expand to these areas rather than shifting to other states. He said that high cost of land in developed districts restricts the expansion of industry.
PPCC President said that unemployment and drugs were big problems in Punjab. He said that SAD-BJP government had given false hopes to people to resolve these issues. The SAD in its election manifesto has promised to give Rs.1000 per month unemployment allowance and to eradicate drugs from state. He said that SAD-BJP government was shielding the drug mafia and unemployed youth has become main victim of drug menace. He said that health and education sectors were in bad shape. The alliance government has failed on all fronts and it has set up new mile stones in corruption.
Bajwa said that coming Parliament elections were an opportunity for the people to teach a lesson to SAD-BJP alliance. He said that both parties had joined hands for vested political and business interests. The BJP which is anti minority community would never be well-wisher of Sikhs. He said that Gujarat CM Narendra Modi has told Sikhs to sell their lands and go back to Punjab. He said that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was maintaining silence over this issue.
Others who addressed the meeting included PPCC Vice President O.P.Soni, PPCC General Secretary Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Raman Bhalla, Joginder Singh Chheena, Vinay Mahajan and Rumal Chand.