SAD determined to get Chandigarh for Punjab: Badal

Phillaur, Mar 21 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asserted that Chandigarh was on the top agenda of Shiromani Akali Dal which would make all efforts to get the Union Territory for Punjab.

Mr Badal, who was in Punjab Police Academy Phillaur today, while responding to queries about his letter to Prime Minister to provide jobs in Chandigarh in 60:40 ratio between Punjab and Haryana, clarified that the letter in no way indicated that SAD had left the claim on Chandigarh for Punjab.

''It was just a figment of imagination of a certain section in media which had misinterpreted the letter,'' Mr Badal said adding that all efforts were being taken to get Chandigarh for the state.

When asked about any possibility of revival of terrorism in Punjab after the arrests of two hardcore terrorists by Delhi police in Jalandhar, Mr Badal ruled out any such possibility, saying that the people of the state could not afford to go through the ''black days'' now and would not allow the menace to raise its head again.

Asked to comment upon the ongoing controversy between opposition leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Mr Badal said ''it was an internal matter of the Congress party''.

Earlier, the Chief Minister took the salute from 1483 trainees belonging to different states of the country and Bhutan and Maldives, in annual passing out parade of Punjab Police Academy Phillaur.

Punjab DGP NPS Aulakh and academy Director Rajdeep Singh Gill DGP also addressed the function.

The Chief Minister in his address, announced to make Punjab Police Academy Phillaur as Police University Phillaur and asked Academy Director to send detailed project report within fifteen days, saying it will be the first police university in the country.

He announced Rs two Crore for the academy and Rs 25 Lakh for Academy Convent School.

He announced one weekly off for all cops in Punjab.

However, Mr Badal advised the cops to be friendly with public to improve its image of "Danda Police" (baton weilders) and also stressed the need for Punjabis for cultivating discipiline.

UNI XC JN VN1728