Punjab to make marriage registration compulsory

Phagwara, Dec 16 (UNI) Registration of marriages in Punjab will be made compulsory with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal indicating today the government is intiating certain steps in this direction.

Registration of marriages would be particularly helpful for those who get married to NRIs, he told mediapersons here.

When questioned about his party's demand for a separate Anand Karaj Act for Sikhs who are presently governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, Mr Badal refused to comment. However, former union minister and SAD MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa who was also present said his party MPs have urged the Prime Minister to bring a bill for the Sikh Anand Karaj Act in Parliament.

Regarding the flight of industry from the state, Mr Badal urged the Union Government to provide subsidies to the pattern of Himachal Pradesh to check this trend.

Ruling out the revival of terrorism in the border state, Mr Badal was all praise for the Punjab Police for nabbing four Babbar Khalsa terrorists a few days back. He particularly signaled out Jalandhar Range DIG Narinderpal Singh and Kapurthala SSP Rakesh Aggarwal who made hard been instrumental in nabbing the terrorists and foiling their attempts to create a law and order problem in the state.

He reiterated that no one would be allowed to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the state. He however, made it clear that police excess would also not be tolerated.

When his attention was drawn towards the power crisis gripping the state, Mr Badal said previous Congress government did not add even a single MW in the last five years. He said SAD-BJP Government was working on a long term plan to provide 24 hours uninterrupted power supply but nothing could be done instantly.

He said the 500 MW Lehra Mohabbat would be commissioned by March next year and the foundation stones of three more thermal plant would be laid soon.

The Chief Minister squarely blamed the previous Congress government for the fiscal crisis gripping the state. The education sector was one of the priority areas of the government and 17,000 teachers were being recruited to fill vacant posts, he added.

UNI