Punjab seeks tax concession for industry at par with HP,J and K

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents to include the state and its specific issues, including a package of industrial concession to the state, in its programme for the forthcoming Lok Sabha electioin.

Participating in a national meet of the Chief Ministers of the States ruled by NDA constitutes, Mr Badal pointed out that Punjab did not oppose any concessions given to any state, but it should also be treated at par in such packages which have been already extended to Himachal Pradesh, Utaranchal, and Jammu and Kashmir.

"Punjab Industry desperately needs a package on those lines.

Also, the people of the State deserve special consideration as they had to bear the brunt of an active international border,''said Mr Badal.

He also raised the issue of the preservation, promotion and growth of the Punjabi language in states which had sizeable Punjabi population. The Punjabi language has a natural claim to being treated as the second most important language in many of the Northern States and steps needed to be taken to accord it the status which was its due, he added.

Also, the role of the language in spreading the message of freedom struggle through every nook and corner of the world needs to be better understood and appreciated, Mr Badal said.

Thanking the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for his personal role in the 300th Birth Anniversary of the Khalsa in 1999, Mr Badal said similar zeal must be shown in observing other landmarks in Sikh and national history. He requested Uttranchal Chief Minister B C Khanduri to 'personally' monitor the progress on providing a modern and wide road linkage between Punjab and Hemkunt Sahib.

Mr Badal had already approached the Centre for securing a regular helipad near the holy shrine of Hemkunt Sahib.

Emphasising the need for greater cooperation and coordination among the Chief Ministers from the NDA Ruled-States, Mr Badal said political and economic networking had become necessary for development and peace.

The Chief Minister submitted a set of proposals for NDA's success in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.

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