Sri Muktsar Sahib: Apathetic attitude of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre was responsible for the rotting of foodgrains in Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday alleged.
"The state government merely acts as a facilitator of the Union government in purchase of food grains, but the entire responsibility of its proper storage, lifting and movement lies on the Centre," he said.
Badal was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the second day of his `Sangat Darshan` programme in Kolianwali area of the Lambi assembly.
"However, the performance of the Union government on the matter is dismaying as neither it has been able to store the foodgrains properly nor the freight arrangements were made in a proper manner," he claimed.
Badal said despite his personal requests to the top brass of the Union Government they have hardly paid any heed in granting permission for setting up new silos for storing the grains in the state.
"The result of it is that the precious foodgrains produced after a lot of labour by the farmer gets decayed in the state," he said.
Slamming Congress, the chief minister said the people of the country were fed up due to their "wrong policies" and added the crushing defeat of the Congress candidate in Dasuya by-poll reflects the state of their mind.
"There is a wave of resentment against the Congress and the party will be routed out in the next General elections," he told reporters.
"People are fed up of corruption, inflation and unemployment, and they will certainly teach the Congress and its allies a lesson in the Lok Sabha polls," Badal said.
Favoring the demand of ex-servicemen to grant them `One Rank One Pension`, the chief minister said the Army plays a vital role in safeguarding the borders of the country so the Union government was duty bound to pay attention towards their welfare.
Replying to a query, Badal said that the state government was fully committed to check the illegal mining in the state for which a new Mining policy would be announced soon.
PTI
