Amarinder advises Badal to retire from politics

Batala, Nov 24 (UNI) Winding up the second round of the Punjab Vikas Yatra in the Majha region, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today advised SAD president Parkash Singh Badal to retire from politics and fully utilise the services of old age home set up by him at his native village Badal because of his cynical nature and orthodox outlook that had retarded the overall development of the state.

Addressing media persons on the outskirts of the Kathunangal during a brief lunch break on his way to Verka, Capt Singh said that he would give this suggestion at the rally to be organized at village Badal on Parkash Singh Badal's birthday as a gift from Congress party.

He further said that the tremendous response to the yatra had not only instilled confidence in the rank and file of the Congress but also boosted our morale to wipe out the Akalis in the next assembly election.

He confidently said that though he was not a soothsayer but still could make a prophecy that his party would capture far more seats than it actually won during the last assembly elections.

Replying to another question on the revision of parameters for BPL families, Capt Singh said that he had time and again taken up this issue with the Central government to revise these norms.

''As far as Punjab is concerned it can not be compared with a backward state like Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand and if the government wants to equate Punjab then at least they should compare it with Haryana or Maharastra'', said Capt Singh.

The Chief Minister opined that there should be two sets of the norms for advanced as well as backward states to implement the schemes meant for the eligible beneficiaries under BPL.

He said that economic level should be the predominant factor to determine the eligibility of these beneficiaries to avail of facilities under BPL schemes.

Asked to comment on accusation of Mr Badal that Maharaja Amarinder Singh did not come out of his palace to meet people frequently, Capt Singh said that perhaps Badal was sadly mistaken and misinformed that how could he (read Capt Singh) rise to the stature of member of parliament and MLA for many terms in the past during his political career spanning 37 years without freely interacting with the people.

On the question of the ban imposed by the Court on the private practice of registered medical practitioners, Capt Singh said that the Punjab government had decided to introduce a capsule course of the prescribed curriculum to enable these medical practitioners to do it. Capt Singh estimated the number of such medical practitioners to be 75000.

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