Chandigarh, July 19, 2023 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today warned the Government of India against what she described as “ the growing sense of alienation, discrimination and insecurity in the minds of the national minorities”
“This is a direct consequence of the persistently provocative decisions and approach which amount to direct interference in the sensitive religious affairs of the minorities, especially the Sikhs,” she said while speaking at the All Party Meeting ahead of Monsoon session of the Parliament .
This govt’s attitude towards the Sikhs over the past couple of years has been particularly alarming and raises many questions about tis commitment to the secular ideals enshrined in our Constitution,” said Ms Badal, pointing out instances of direct governmental interference in the form of arbitrary dismemberment of the Sikh religious parliament the SGPC by sponsoring and abetting the setting of a separate body in Haryana in violation of the time honoured pact between Late Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru and Master Tara Singh ji, known as Nehru-Master Tara Singh Pact.
“They illegally and unconstitutionally grabbed control of our sacred and historical Gurdhams with the brazen use of police force.
Ms Badal said that the government’s approach to the UCC issue also smacked of the same anti-minority mindset. “They did not even think it proper to take stakeholders on board before floating the proposal.”
Ms Badal took up the issue of massive youth migration especially of the educated youth from the state to other countries. “This is a huge issue in Punjab as youth in every fourth house of our state is migrating due to lack of opportunities and jobs here . It is ironical that Bhagwant Mann had boasted earlier that instead of migrations from the state, the Goras ( theWhite Europeans) will descend on Punjab seeking jobs here.”
Mrs Badal came down heavily against the state government in Punjab, describing CM Bhagwant Mann as “that Malevolent Man in Flying Machine”. She said that he is constantly “air-born even as vast areas in Punjab resemble a watery grave. The flood menace in Punjab is a Mann-made tragedy more than being a natural disaster.”
She sought relief for flood affected people, especially the beleaguered farmers. She bemoaned the absence of the much needed immediate and ex gratia grant to the affected people in the flood affected areas. menace
Mrs Badal also took the state government to task for not protecting the rights of Punjab on key and sensitive issues including Chandigarh and River waters issue. . “The CM was more keen to gift water to Rajasthan when our own farmers desperately needed in hot summer months But when the floods came, he ordered Rajasthan Feeder Canal to be closed, blocking all water in the already inundated state. What would you call this if not anti-Punjab obsession?”
She said that the farmers whose entire crop and houses have been damaged needed help. All this is also going to affect the rice crop and ultimately the national food security is also going to take a huge hit.
Ms Badal also asked the centre to come to the aid of the state farmers and other flood affected people with liberal central assistance of the from the relevant central funds. “Punjab must not be made to suffer just because it has an incompetent and irresponsible government.”
Ms Badal warned the centre against giving land to Haryana in Chandigarh for setting up its Legislative Assembly as the city belongs to Punjab as part of a sacred national commitment ratified by the Parliament.. She also took the Chief Minister to task for not even speaking out against the land transfer. The CM didn’t object to BBMB member being removed nor on safeguarding the state’s river waters as per the Riparian principle.
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