COMMITTED TO ENSURE EXEMPLARY PUNISHMENT TO PERPETRATORS OF SACRILEGE INCIDENT: CM

Chandigarh, September 4: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Wednesday that the state government is firmly committed to ensuring exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of the sacrilege incidents and will file a fresh report on the matter soon.

Taking part in discussions during the session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister said that the state government has got major clues in the sacrilege incidents and a fresh report to ensure that the perpetrators get the punishment for their sins.

He said that the state government has already sent the report for legal vetting to ensure that no one involved in this crime escapes the gallows.

Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the day is near when the culprits of this heinous crime will be behind bars. He added that, unlike previous governments, they will leave no stone unturned to achieve this.

Slamming the previous governments for adopting a soft approach towards this highly emotive issue, the Chief Minister said that due to this laxity the criminals who have bruised the psyche of Sikhs by committing such unpardonable crime are still roaming free.

government to punish the perpetrators of sacrilege incidents

Reiterating the firm commitment of his government to punish the perpetrators of sacrilege incidents in the state, he said that it is the bounden duty of his government to ensure that these dreaded criminals get punishment. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every person who has been hand in glove in this crime will be ensured exemplary punishment for this sin.

The Chief Minister said that unlike the Union government which introduces its policies without applying mind and consulting the people, the state government makes policies in consultation with people. He said that they are drafting the agriculture policy after consulting all the stakeholders, while they have successfully implemented the industrial policy after consulting the industrialists.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is mulling to constitute an Industrial Advisory Commission with a chairman of Cabinet rank by including major industrialists in it.

The Chief Minister announced that the state will soon hold Panchayat elections, and candidates will contest them without party symbols. He said that this will remove group ism in the villages and ensure holistic development of the rural areas.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has taken a path breaking decision to debar the candidates from contesting elections on party symbols in larger public interests.

ANNOUNCES RS 5 LAKH GRANT TO PANCHAYATS ELECTED UNANIMOUSLY

The Chief Minister announced that villages electing their panchayats unanimously will receive a grant of Rs 5 lakh, along with a stadium, school, or hospital as needed. He emphasised that the state government aims to strengthen the panchayati raj system by ensuring the election of intelligent and honest individuals.

Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed his belief that these efforts by the state government will yield the desired results and benefit the people.

ASSERTS THAT OTS SCHEME LAUNCHED BY PREVIOUS REGIMES WAS A SHAM

The Chief Minister said that the state government has already successfully implemented OTS for pending VAT cases. He said the state government earned Rs 164 crore more than in previous fiscal years through this OTS scheme and added that the government will introduce a new OTS in the coming days. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that such OTS during the previous regimes were merely sham as it didn’t benefit anyone.

The Chief Minister announced that the state government introduced the Fire and Emergency Service Bill, which the state assembly unanimously passed. He said that this is a historic initiative which will pave the way for further ensuring women empowerment in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this bill was the need of hour to ensure that women become an active partner in the socio economic growth of the country.

 FULFILS PROMISE TO RELAX NORMS FOR ENTRY OF GIRLS IN FIRE FIGHTING STAFF

The Chief Minister further stated that they are making the necessary amendments to the rules to change the physical criteria for recruiting women into the Fire Fighting staff. He added that previous governments neglected to change these rules because they were indifferent to the people and their problems.

Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that Punjab will be the first state in the country to recruit girls in the fire fighting staff.

The Chief Minister said that these reforms were need of hour as in view of skyscrapers and congested roads in interiors, the latest type of vehicles are to be provided to the fire brigade. He said that the state government is ready to bring revolutionary changes in its functioning for the welfare of the common man. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they are making every effort to ensure the holistic development of the state and the prosperity of its people.

 SLAMS JAKHARS FOR BASELESS, IRRESPONSIBLE AND IRRATIONAL STATEMENT 

Taking BJP leadership to cudgels, the Chief Minister dared MLA Sandeep Jakhar to ask his uncle and state BJP Chief Sunil Jakhar to verify his facts before issuing any statement. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the supply of DAP fertilizer had commenced in the state after he had flagged this issue with Union Minister JP Nadda. However, he said that the BJP leaders issued baseless, irresponsible and irrational statements on this issue which were unwarranted and undesirable.