Amarinder in poll mode, firm on Ludhiana City centre project

Ludhiana, Sep 27 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today accused the main opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of being envious of the mega development projects, like the Ludhiana City Centre, and dared the party to face the Congress in the Assembly polls over the issue.

''I will not bend in front of any resistance posed by the opposition, who are jealous of the developmental projects initiated by our government in the state,'' the Punjab Chief Minister said, while challenging the SAD-BJP combine in the coming state elections.

The Ludhiana City Centre project would continue despite all the ''hassles being posed by the opposition'', Capt Singh said in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad and other union ministers at the public rally in the Guru Nanak Stadium here.

''The Ludhiana City Centre, the Asia's biggest project, is being built in a transparent manner and if there is any irregularity regarding income tax payment, the department concerned should look into that,'' he said.

''Now when the Badals have come to know through their counsel that they cannot escape from the corruption cases filed against them, they have resorted to defaming the government,'' Capt Singh said.

He said the Prime Minister had always been sympathetic to the problems of the people of Punjab and the state government was thankful to him for his special attention to the agrarian state.

Capt Singh told the Dr Singh on the occasion that the Punjab government would seek his attention soon to discuss certain demands pertaining to problem's of the farmers, mainly the heavy rural indebtedness.

He said the state government would ensure that the farmers now got the market prices for their lands being acquired for certain developmental projects.

UNI PS JN AK HT1612