Punjab Newsline; Gurpreet Singh Mehak; Wednesday, 29 September 2010;
FATEHGARH SAHIB: Though Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal has opposed the move of reviving the legislative council but Punjab Minister for Public Relations Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan justified the proposal.
Speaking to media persons after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib Sekhwan said that there are some intellectuals, who are contributing for upliftment of the society and these persons are helpful are formulating pro people policies so services of these persons will be taken for revival of the Upper House(legislative council). He said there is need of revival of legislative council as intellectuals are not usually interested in contesting elections.
When asked Manpreet Badal's opposition, he said that the FM is opposing the move as it will put additional financial burden on the state exchequer.
He hailed the appointment of Amandeep Singh, who was appointed to the President's
Advisory Commission for Asian American and Pacific Islanders. On recent racial attack on Indian student in Australia, the minister said that the Union government should take up the matter with Australia government.
On RTI revelation that in past two years, about Rs 10 lakh was spent on serving tea, cold drinks and snacks to vistors at the state secretariat where the CM and Deputy Chief Minister are very infrequent visits, Sekhan while justifying it said there are large number of visitors to the secretariat and even all guests were also attended.
He suggested that vacant posts should be filled immediately as it will helpful in smooth running of work departments. He said posts of PRO and APROs will be filled soon as the Punjab university had submitted the test result to Public Relations Department and the government will soon announce the result. He said paddy procurement will start in state from October 1 and the state government has fixed target of 140 lakh quintal to purchase the crop. He said payment will be made to farmers as per the government policies.
He highlighted the features of new media policy of the state but media persons apprised the minister that the policy is too late and there is nothing in the policy. He said Public Relations Department suffered a lot as the previous Congress government did not bother about it.
Later the minister was honoured by Bhartiya Dalit Front president. He also attended the bhog ceremony of mother in law of former MLA Balwant Singh Shahpur’s. On the occasion, senior SAD leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra, Didar Singh Bhatti Jagdeep Singh Cheema, Ranjit Singh Libra, Karnail Singh Panjoli also paid tributes.
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