State industry has best infrastructure: Badal

LUDHIANA: Much against speculations regarding cracks in SAD-BJP relations, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal said that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was and would ever remain an integral part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, Badal remained evasive on his claims regarding abysmal condition of industry in the state, and left the conference in-between, failing to give a satisfactory reply.
Interacting with mediapersons on sidelines of the state-level function to mark Vishwakarma Day in Guru nanak Bhawan, the chief minister categorically said that he had dedicated his entire life struggling to safeguard interests of Punjab, adding that it was during this struggle that the ties of SAD with NDA in general and BJP in particular were firmed up. Terming that SAD-BJP alliance has always stood the test of time, Badal said that the alliance was everlasting.
On being asked about impact of the breaking away from alliances even in states like Maharashtra and in Haryana as well, Badal said that in Maharashtra, BJP and Shiv Sena would form the next government and they would get together. He further said that it was in the national interest that all the parties should get together. Badal said that it was also the need of the hour so that major fillip could be given to overall development of Maharashtra. On being asked about his claims regarding the industry having been affected due to central government and not by the state government's own failure, Badal claimed that industry in the state had the "best infrastructure". When asked about various problems like VAT refund and absence of even a convention center or exhibition center in Ludhiana, the evasive chief minister preferred moving away from the press conference.
Meanwhile, the chief minister honoured, 41 industrialists, doctors and people from the other sections of society for their contribution. It was during this address that he alleged that the Industry in the state had suffered losses due to policies of the previous Congress government and also because of a decade and a half of militancy in the state. Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included cabinet ministers Chunni Lal Bhagat, Daljit Singh Cheema and others.