If Pirzada asks, the matter would be looked into: Badal

Moga, Jan 3 (UNI) Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal said today that if IAS officer G S Pirzada approached his government against the state Vigilance Department, it would definitely look into the matter.

While talking to newspersons here today, Mr Badal however, clarified that he had so far not received any representation from Tamil Nadu cadre IAS Punjab officer G S Pirzada who has claimed that his arrest by the Punjab Vigilance Department about four years back was meant only to ''harass'' him.

The Vigilance department had registered a criminal case against Mr Pirzada in January 2004 and recently went on record to say that it had no evidence against the officer.

The Chief Minister, was asked to comment on the IAS officer's recent statement that he had made a representation to the chief secretary Punjab for a thorough investigation to unearth the ''conspiracy and malafide intention'' behind registeration of the criminal case.

''We have so far not received any representation. Whenever we receive his representation, the state government would take up the matter to redress his grievances, if any,'' Mr Badal said.

Mr Badal was strongly critical of the Centre for ''unnecessary delay'' in sanctioning of the developmental projects and other packages sought by the state and stressed the need for federal system under which states enjoyed more powers, specially regarding the finances.

In reply to another question, chief minister said that he was aware of the difficultues of the NRIs and denied that 'step-motherly' treatment was being meted out to them in the state.

''The question of injustice against the NRIS did not arise in Punjab,'' he asserted.

Mr Badal also said that the NRIs Samelan at Jalandhar will definitely help in bridging the gap between the State government and the NRIs and will defonitely open the new avenues for foreign investment.

UNI XC JN MMS1720