Punjab CM asks youth to contribute in development process

Chandigarh, Sep 25 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today called upon the youth to come forward for the overall development, progress and prosperity in the state as they had tremendous potential to make Punjab emerge as a front runner state in the country.

Presiding over the installation ceremony of Vijay Inder Singla as the President of Punjab Youth Congress at Congress Bhawan here, Capt Singh said the Congress government was committed to develop Punjab but the Akalis were bound to push it in the 18th century due to their ''narrow outlook and vested interests''.

He said the Akalis opposed each and every move of the state government that ensured development and progress in the state.

Citing an example of City Centre at Ludhiana , Capt Singh said that the Akalis were bent upon to create unwarranted controversy to scuttle this prestigious project just to gain cheap popularity keeping eyes on the forthcoming state assembly elections.

Outlining the achievement in the industrial and power sector, Capt Singh said that the investment in mega projects would cross the mark of Rs one lakh crore with an employment potential of 20 lakh jobs by December 31, 2006. Likewise, the state government had made concerted efforts to augment the additional power generation of 7200 MW besides the exiting power generation capacity of 5900 MW, he said.

PPCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo said in his address that the Congress party in Punjab would strive hard to exploit the untapped potential of youth in a constructive way to boost the morale of the rank and file of the party and percolate the development activities and policies at the block and the village level.

He hoped that Mr Singla, being capable of delivering goods efficiently, would certainly come up to the expectations of the common man.

Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Union Minister of State for Finance and Local MP Pawan Bansal, AICC President Ashok Tanwar, outgoing PYC President Ravider Amla, Secretary AICC and incharge PYC Naresh Kumar Sharma, PPCC General Secretary Raninder Singh. Several ministers, MLAs and other party leaders and workers were also present.

UNI PS SY GC1701