FM Arun Jaitley tries to improve BJP-SAD ties, launches HRIDAY for 12 cities in Amritsar

By Vinay Sharma

CHANDIGARH: Indicating that the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance is here to stay, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while lauding the SAD Supremo Parkash Singh Badal at Amritsar, called the alliance not merely a political alliance but a social alliance aimed at strengthening the bonds of peace, communal harmony, amity and brotherhood in the state. Jaitley choose Amritsar to launch the "National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana " ( HRIDAY) for 12 cities in the country. Government of India has sanctioned ` . 69.31 crore as 100% grant for Amritsar city.

Jaitley had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections from Amritsar.His visit is also seen to ease tensions between Akalis and local unit of BJP. Emboldened by the success of RSS in rural pockets, tensions have been simmering between the two allies with senior BJP leaders indicating that party may choose to contest alone for the 2017 assembly elections in the state. However, Jaitley's visit, for the time being, will put such speculations to rest.

The Union Finance Minister said that Punjab, being a cradle of Indian civilization, was all set to lead the country in the arena of agriculture and defense for which it was aptly known as the sword arm and granary of the nation.

He said that the GoI has made budgetary . 50,000 crore for the national allocation of ` irrigation network in the country from which Punjab would be immensely benefited.

"Punjab would soon emerge as a role model for the other states in the country to have the best four six laned road network despite a smaller state as compared to other ones where one could safely reach from one end to another just within shortest time period," Jaitley said.

Making a strong case for the farmers, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said that it was the high time to redress the grievances of beleaguered peasantry, which was on cross roads due to the apathy of the previous Congress governments at the Centre. "These helpless farmers are looking at NDA government led by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring them out from the deep agrarian crisis prevailing in the country."

Badal is meeting the Prime Minister on Wednesday on the same issue. Punjab Government is seeking the Centre to immediately constitute a sub group of the Chief Ministers from the predominantly agrarian states to address the issues related to them on the priority.

Akalis didn't loose the opportunity to take on Captain Amarinder Singh in the presence of Arun Jaitley.

Lashing out at former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said that the royal scion of Patiala had never bothered about the issues and problems confronted by common man and has distanced himself from masses after having been elected as MP from Amritsar.

"Dismal performance of captain as MLA and MP was a testimony to the fact that he hardly feel any need to meet people. On the other hand the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has dedicated his entire life for the well being of the common man by organizing Sangat Darshan programs to redress their grievances at their door steps."