Committed to ensure exemplary punishment to perpetrators of sacrilege incident: CM

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday said that the state government is firmly committed to ensure exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of the sacrilege incidents and a fresh report regarding the matter will be filed 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 report has already been sent by the state government for legal vetting so that no one escapes gallows for their involvement in this crime. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the day is not far away when the culprits of this heinous crime will be seen behind the bars adding that unlike the previous governments they will not leave any stone unturned for 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. 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 Agriculture policy is being drafted after due consultation with all the stakeholders whereas the industrial policy has been successfully implemented after due consultations with 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 said that Panchayat elections in the state will be held soon and these will be contested by the candidates without party symbol. He said that this will remove groupism 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.

The Chief Minister announced that any village who will elect the panchayats unanimously will get a grant of Rs 5 lakh along with stadium, school or hospital whatever is needed. He said that the state government wants to strengthen the panchayti raj system for which intelligent and honest people must be elected. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that these efforts of the state government will produce desired results and people will be benefited from it.

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

The Chief Minister said that the state government has introduced the Fire and Emergency Service Bill that was passed unanimously by the state assembly. 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.

The Chief Minister further said that required amendments are being made in the rules for changing the physical criteria for recruitment of ladies in Fire Fighting staff. He said that none of the previous governments had bothered to change these rules because they were least bothered about 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 every effort is being made to ensure holistic development of the state and prosperity of its people.

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.