Capt protests incentives for hill states, to take up Punjab’s case

Chandigarh, August 18 : Opposing the Centre’s decision to extend special incentives to the hill states, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday said he would pursue Punjab’s demand for extending similar incentives to the border areas and Kandi belt. Talking to mediapersons at the Punjab Kala Bhawan here after inaugurating a Photo Journalists Welfare Association exhibition, the Chief Minister said Punjab’s Kandi and border areas also had special problems and deserved to be put on par with the hill states in terms of the incentives.
He said his government had earlier also raised the issue with the Centre and would pursue the case even more aggressively now that the decision on the hill states had been taken. In response to a question on the upcoming verdict on Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Ram Rahim, the Chief Minister made it clear that nobody would be allowed to disturb the state’s law and order. He said he had directed the police department to remain alert against any attempt to disrupt peace in Punjab. Peace had to be maintained at all costs in order to ensure the state’s progress, he added.