Sangrur (Punjab), Mar 5 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said 370 people from the state are stranded in the Gulf amid the escalating conflict in the region, and his government is actively coordinating with the Centre to ensure their safe return.
According to officials, the Punjab government has deployed two senior officers to coordinate and monitor the process of ensuring the safe and hassle-free return of Punjabis stranded in the strife-torn West Asia. A round-the-clock helpline has also established.
“The Punjab government has identified 370 Punjabis who are stranded in the Gulf region amidst the ongoing war. We have already taken up this issue with the Union Government, and efforts are being made to bring them back.
“The Punjab government is firmly committed to bringing back the Punjabis stuck in the Middle Eastern countries,” Mann said.
About the upcoming budget, the Punjab chief minister said it will introduce several “pro-people” initiatives, aimed at accelerating economic growth while strengthening welfare measures.
The budget session of the Punjab assembly will commence on March 6. The budget will be presented on March 8.
Addressing a gathering during a ‘Lok Milni’ event here, the chief minister said the Punjab government has utilised public money responsibly over the past four years, delivering free power to more than 90 per cent households, establishing 881 ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’, and providing over 63,000 government jobs without bribery or recommendation.
Opposition parties have been slamming the AAP government over the “rising” debt of Punjab and have demanded a white paper on the state of finances.
Taking a swipe at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mann said the Akali leadership has lost touch with the realities of Punjab and should stop daydreaming about returning to power.
He remarked that while Punjab’s youth need employment opportunities, Badal is busy talking about organising card tournaments in villages.
Traditional political parties burdened Punjab with debt and worked for their own interests, whereas the AAP dispensation is using every rupee from the state exchequer for the welfare of the people, Mann said.
He also criticised the Union government for “withholding” Punjab’s rightful funds while simultaneously attempting “to divide people through politics of polarisation”.
“The BJP has always tried to divide the country based on faith to push its agenda of hatred. The statement made by the Union Home Minister regarding religious conversion in Punjab is aimed at polarising people, which is the strategy of the BJP.
“Instead of indulging in such dirty politics, the Union government should be generous in allocating funds to Punjab instead of withholding the legitimate share of the state,” said Mann.
The chief minister said that despite Punjab’s immense contribution to the nation, the Union government has “stalled” key funds meant for the development of the state.
“Punjab has played a stellar role in the freedom struggle, in making the country self-reliant in food production and in defending the borders of the nation. Despite this, the share of Punjab in rural development funds and other funds has been stalled by the Centre, which is hampering development.
“Rather than indulging in such cheap tactics, the Union government should immediately release the funds so that the development of Punjab can be further accelerated,” he said.
Mann said the Punjab government has significantly strengthened public health infrastructure and expanded access to medical services.
“As many as 881 ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ have been opened in Punjab to provide free healthcare to people, and quality healthcare services are being ensured in government hospitals,” he highlighted. PTI CHS NSD NSD
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