URGES PEOPLE OF PUNJAB TO STRENGTHEN AAP
(MOREPIC1) Vikaram Ditya Sharma/Ferozepur
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with traders in Ferozepur on Sunday. Kejriwal heard the problems of the traders and assured them of a solution. AAP National General Secretary Dr Sandeep Pathak, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and AAP candidate from Ferozepur Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar were present in this meeting.
Addressing the gathering, Arvind Kejriwal told the Arhtiyas (commission agents) of Punjab that Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls you middlemen. But we consider you the backbone of our economy. We have great respect for you. He said that just as farmers and laborers are important for the development of the country, traders, businessmen and industrialists are also important.
(SUBHEAD)He said that I came to Punjab a year ago. At that time, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and I, held meetings with traders for several hours in many cities including Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali and I myself noted down their every problem. After my departure, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held several business meetings and on that basis, took several important decisions like the 'One Time Settlement' scheme to solve the problems of traders.
Kejriwal said that before our government was formed, the condition of industry in Punjab was very bad. For 75 years, Punjab's industry was a victim of nepotism. Traders were leaving the state and going to other states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, but in the last two years, the trend of industries leaving the state has ended and the new industry is coming to Punjab.
Investments worth about Rs 56,000 crore have been made in Punjab in two years. A reputed company like Tata Steel has set up its second biggest plant here after Jamshedpur. Companies from countries like Germany and Netherlands are also coming to Punjab now. The biggest reason for this is that the law and order situation in Punjab has improved a lot in the last two years and the establishment of a large number of industries here proves this to be true. Apart from this, we have simplified the government process for the industry and freed them from the hassles of government offices.
He said that our government has ended corruption in Punjab, due to which a lot of government money is being saved now. With that money, we are giving free electricity to the people of Punjab. Today, 83 percent of Punjabis are getting zero electricity bills. Apart from this, we are building mohalla clinics at various places and improving the condition of government hospitals. At the same time, we are converting government schools into Schools of Eminence. All this is happening because our intentions are clear and we are working honestly.
He said that I need your support for the rapid development of Punjab. I request you to strengthen our hands. If you give us 13 seats, our strength will increase in the center. Then no one will be able to stop Punjab's funds and even the Governor will not be able to stop any bills of Punjab. Right now the central government has stopped about eight and a half thousand crores of Punjab. This is happening because we are weak in the Lok Sabha.
He said that the central government is harassing Punjab. Punjab has a coal mine in other state, when we started bringing coal from there, the central government said to bring coal to Punjab via Sri Lanka and Gujarat. When Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann opposed this, then the central government gave a direct train to bring coal. If we had more MPs in Parliament, this would not have happened.
Kejriwal said that the people of Punjab have made the biggest contribution in the freedom struggle. That is why today I have come to you with an appeal to save the country. Today the constitution and democracy of the country are in danger. To save it, you will have to come forward again. If we do not defeat Narendra Modi this time, then the democracy and constitution of the country will be destroyed. Then the situation in the country will become like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Russia.
He said that Imran Khan was put in jail during the elections in Pakistan, due to which his seats decreased. In Bangladesh too, Sheikh Hasina put all the opposition leaders in jail during the elections, and became the Prime Minister again. Similarly, in Russia, President Vladimir Putin either put the opposition leaders in jail or got them killed, then he became the President with 87 percent votes. Today the situation in India is also the same.
He said that this election of India is being conducted dictatorially. Before the elections, I and three big leaders of my party, Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain were put in jail. In Maharashtra, they broke Shiv Sena and NCP. In Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren was put in jail. You tell me, is this the way to contest elections in a democratic country?
Kejriwal said that if Modi wins the election this time, he will change the constitution of the country. He will end the electoral system from the country and will end the reservation given to backward and scheduled castes by the Constitution. He said that this has been the aim of RSS and its associated organizations from the beginning. Therefore, in this election, we have to end dictatorship by any means. We will eat one less meal, but we should not let dictatorship be implemented in the country.
Before the address of Arvind Kejriwal in the Ferozepur townhall meeting (particularly with the traders of the border area), the traders of Ferozepur shared their issues and suggestions with the AAP national convenor. Kamal Kishor (rice mill industry) said that the centre government has stopped market fees and RDF export refunds. It is affecting the mandis, market committees and their development He said that it should be started again.
