The Hindu : New Delhi News : Badal seeks industrial package for Punjab in NDA aganda

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Badal seeks industrial package for Punjab in NDA aganda

Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal

NEW DELHI: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday asked National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to include a package of industrial concessions to the State in its programme for forthcoming Lok Sabha poll.

Participating in a meeting here of Chief Ministers of States ruled by NDA constitutes, Mr Badal said while Punjab did not oppose any concessions given to any State, it wanted parity as such packages had been extended to Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal Pardesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

“Punjab industry desperately needs a package along those lines. Also, the people of the State deserve special consideration as they had to bear the brunt of an active international border”, said an official release quoting Mr Badal.

He also raised the issue of the preservation, promotion and growth of Punjabi language in States which had sizeable Punjabi population.

Punjabi language has a natural claim to being treated as the second most important language in many northern states and steps needed to be taken to accord it the status which is its due, he said.

He requested Uttrankhand Pradesh Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri to “personally” monitor the progress in providing a modern and wide road linkage between Punjab and Hemkunt Sahib in Uttarakhand.

Emphasising the need for greater cooperation and coordination among Chief Ministers of NDA ruled-states, Badal said political and economic net-working had become necessary for development and peace.

Mr. Badal demanded the proposed freight corridor from West Bengal to Ludhiana, a key industrial site of Punjab, be extended to Amritsar in view of the expected boost in international trade activity through Attari-Wagha border.

Industrial corridor from Mumbai to Delhi should be extended up to Ludhiana, he said

Mr Badal also expressed his government’s strong opposition to the reported proposal of the Centre to include Ravi-Beas link in the list of national projects. River water being a state subject, the Centre should not force any such projects on any state, he said. The river water issue has strong economic, political and emotional implications and the Centre would do well not to proceed with any project that had the potential of starting a fresh controversy, he said.- PTI

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