Chandigarh Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday had detailed deliberations with the industrialists and traders during Sarkar Vapaar Milni.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister reiterated that that the first of its kind initiative in the form of Sarkar Vapaar Milni is aimed at ensuring the well being of the trading community. He said that this is a step forward for restoring the pristine glory of the state by giving fillip to its economic development. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the industry and trade is the backbone of the economy of every state due to which it must be given an impetus.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is working tirelessly for changing the face of the state by giving impetus to development of Punjab. He said that they are doing ‘Politics of work’, rather than indulging in mudslinging, for the welfare of the people and the growth of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said this should have been done much earlier so that people could have been benefited from it.
The Chief Minister said that so far investments worth Rs 70,000 crore have been firmed up in the state with leading companies like Tata Steel, Sanatan Textiles and others making a beeline to invest in the state. He said that likewise the state government is duty bound to safeguard the interests of the local industry adding that they are the real brand ambassadors of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed to ensure that these companies expand their businesses in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the state has the best law and order situation in the country due to which industries are coming in a big way. He said that this is contrary to the situation when during previous regimes the leaders used to seek shares in the ventures. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that earlier the MoUs were signed with the political families in power but now these agreements are signed for progress and prosperity of the state.
The Chief Minister gave a clarion call to the traders to work wholeheartedly for progress and prosperity of the state. He exhorted the traders and industrialists to become partners in the ongoing revolution to usher in a new era of economic prosperity for the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has already prepared a blueprint of upgrading the infrastructure in the focal points and SEZs besides ensuring security in the industrial areas by setting up special Police posts.
The Chief Minister said that the era of harassment of the industry and traders is over and the state government will now act as a facilitator to them. He said that unlike in the past no one will harass the industrialists, rather the state government will make every effort to promote and encourage the industry. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is being implemented in real zeal to ensure comprehensive development of the industrial sector.
The Chief Minister said that the state government will make concerted efforts for safeguarding, promoting and expanding the existing industrial units in the state. He said that the industrialists have played a key role in the socio-economic growth of the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these industries have carved a niche for them across the globe and the state government will make every effort to ensure that their interests are safeguarded.
The Chief Minister said that for the first time 410 hi-tech new vehicles have been given to the Station House Officers (SHOs) in Punjab Police to maintain the law and order efficiently in the state. He said that this is contrary to earlier trends when the new vehicles were given to the top officers instead of those at grassroot level. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that SHOs are the real face of the Punjab police as they are directly connected with people adding that industrialists will be immensely benefited from this move.
The Chief Minister further said that to check the fatality rate due to road accidents in the state on one hand and to streamline the movement of traffic on the roads of the state on the other, the state government has launched Sadak Surakhya Force. He said that the first of its kind specialized force is acting as a pivotal to save several precious lives that are lost in road accidents daily in Punjab and this force has been entrusted with the task of checking rash driving, streamlining vehicular movement on roads and others to check the road accidents. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that initially 129 vehicles equipped with ultra modern gadgets have been deployed after every 30 kilometres to man the roads and these vehicles will also have a complete medical kit for providing emergency treatment to any person in need.
In his address, the Delhi Chief Minister exhorted the industrialists to take a round of a new school of Excellence set up by the state government as equipped with state of the art infrastructure and facilities. He said that this school will help the students of the government schools to compete with their convent educated peers thereby excelling in life. Arvind Kejriwal said that a single round of school will make the industrialists think that they have to shift their kids to the government schools.
The Delhi Chief Minister said that the state government is working tirelessly for the well being of every section of the society. He said that on Saturday 165 Aam Aadmi Clinics were dedicated for the welfare of the people adding that in the last 75 years no such effort was made for imparting quality health facilities to the people. However, Arvind Kejriwal said that now 829 Aam Aadmi Clinics are operational in the state which are providing free treatment to the common man coming in these clinics.
The Delhi Chief Minister said that a different type of government has come into power in the state, which will change the definition of government institutions. He said that even in posh areas of Delhi the people had been demanding Mohalla clinics for getting quality health services. Arvind Kejriwal said that these clinics are imparting best treatment to the people due to which they are making a beeline to it.
The Delhi Chief Minister said that on one hand the government schools across the state are being renovated and on other hand government hospitals are being upgraded by equipping them with latest infrastructure. He said that the state government is according top priority to provide jobs to the youth for which the industrial sector is the backbone. Arvind Kejriwal said that all the problems of the industrial sector will be solved on priority basis so that more and more jobs are generated.
The Delhi Chief Minister said that none of the previous governments had ever bothered about the welfare of the industrialists and traders. He said that the previous governments used to term the industrialists as thieves but this government wants to make the industrialists an equal partner in the social economic progress of the state. Arvind Kejriwal said that the state government is here to facilitate the traders and industrialists rather than plundering them as prevalent in the previous regimes.
The Delhi Chief Minister described these milnis as need of the hour for better coordination amongst the state government and traders. He said that it is the need of hour for early resolution of the issues faced by the traders and benefiting them in a big way. Arvind Kejriwal slammed the Union government for creating hiccups in smooth functioning of the non BJP states adding that this is high handedness of the centre.
The Delhi Chief Minister said that as people of Kerala, West Bengal, Telangana and others had empowered their CMs by giving them Lok Sabha seats so now the time has come to give power to Bhagwant Singh Mann by giving all Lok Sabha seats to AAP. He said that the centre is suffering from anti-Punjab syndrome due to which they need to be taught a lesson for which Punjabis should pull up their socks. Arvind Kejriwal said that now the time has come when the Union government should be punished for their sin of rejecting the tableau of the state as it was humiliation of Punjabis adding that the martyrs of state don’t need NOC from the centre for their supreme sacrifices.