Bhattal asks Punjab govt to deal firmly with 'Khalistanis'

Chandigarh, June 25 (UNI) Recalling the days of terrorism in Punjab, Leader of the Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today asked the government to deal firmly with those who were trying to disturb the peace and the tranquil atmopshere in the border state.

"The Congress has always felt that only when there is peace in a state, can progress and development be possible", she said while participating in the discussion on Budget-2007-08 in the Vidhan Sabha here.

She asked the SAD-BJP government to take concrete steps to counter those who were again raising the bogey of 'Khalistan'. She assured Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of all support in maintaining a peaceful atmosphere in the state.

"We will support you where ever necessary, but if there is any laxity on your part then we will awaken you", she said while recalling the sacrifices made by her party colleagues during the phase of militantcy.

Mrs Bhattal took this opportunity to once again warn the SAD against harassing Congress workers and supporters. " You cant win over the people through the process of victmisation and political vendetta", she said while making an appeal to the government to "forgive and forget the past".

Turning to the budgetary speech of Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, she demanded the immediate implementation of the subsidised wheat and pulses scheme, as listed in the SAD manifesto.

She also reiterated her proposal to raise the beneficary limit from the existing Rs 30,000 per annum to Rs 60,000 for this scheme.

Another area which she focussed on was unemployment and demanded that all vacant posts in various government departments should be filled on priority. "Providing employment will help in tackling the rising drug addiction problem in the state", she added.

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