Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today dismissed allegations that Justice (Retd) Ranjit Singh was denied an appointment for the submission of a report on sacrilege cases, saying the panel was yet to complete its probe and so the report was not ready for submission.
Interacting with reporters in the press gallery of the state Assembly, Singh said while the commission had completed its probe into the Behbal Kalan and Bargari incidents, other cases of sacrilege of scriptures such as the Srimad Bhagvad Geeta, Quaran and Sri Gutka Sahib were still being investigated.
Once the entire investigation was completed, the government would immediately take the complete report instead of receiving it piecemeal, he added.
To a question about Local Government Minister Navjot Sidhu's participation in television shows, the Singh reiterated his earlier stand that he did not find anything wrong with it.
It was Sidhu's source of livelihood, he said adding, "If someone asks me to give up agriculture tomorrow, do you really think I can do that, since it is my source of livelihood?"
The chief minister also said that he had obtained all required approvals and clearances before execution of any type of construction activity or boring of tubewell at his farmhouse in Siswan.
On the issue of multi-crore scams in the Irrigation Department, the chief minister said the Vigilance Department was already investigating it and assured that no one would be spared, if found guilty, irrespective of how influential he might be.
Replying to a question on the skyrocketing prices of sand and gravel, Singh attributed it to his government's clampdown on illegal mining which had resulted in scarcity of construction material.
A cabinet sub-committee had been constituted and mandated with the task of monitoring the situation and giving recommendations to tackle the problem of illegal mining effectively, besides ensuring supply of sand and gravel at affordable prices, Singh said.
The committee would soon submit its report after which the present crises would ease out, he added.
Referring to the issue of leakage of the STF report in the media, the Congress leader said the matter would be investigated and action taken accordingly.
He made it clear that anyone found involved in drugs, irrespective of his/her political affiliation, would be punished as per the law of the land.
Replying to a query regarding the expansion of his Cabinet, Singh said he would be seeking an appointment with AICC president Rahul Gandhi in this regard soon after the Budget session.
On the issue of enacting legislation of conflict of interest to bring propriety and integrity in the public life, he said the government was already working in this direction.
Justifying the development tax of Rs 200 on Income Tax payees, Singh said this decision was taken for the creation of a dedicated fund to meet social obligations such as payment of financial assistance to elderly people, widows, destitute besides physically challenged.
He said there was pressure from world bodies such as the IMF and the ADM to levy such taxes to mop up finances as a pre-condition for them to pitch in with money.
To a question regarding restoration of student unions' elections in state universities from 2018-19 academic session, Singh said it had been decided to revive the democratic process in view of the peace and stability prevailing in the state.
Denying apprehensions about the involvement of gangsters in these elections, he said any such attempt would be tackled with an iron hand.
To a question about the recruitment of new college teachers, the chief minister said the government had already decided to open 10 more degree colleges in the state and the recruitment would be done as soon as the state's fiscal condition improved, he added.
On the issue of teaching foreign languages in schools as an optional subject, he said it was important in the current scenario where the world had become a global village, making it necessary for youths seeking jobs overseas to know the language of that country.
Singh pointed out that Mandarin was catching up fast in view of the expanding Chinese market, which offered enormous job opportunities to youths.
The chief minister also underlined the need for Punjab's students to learn English, especially in rural areas, along with their mother tongue to enable them to compete with their peers at the global level.
Rubbishing the claims of opposition about harassment and exploitation of NRIs at the hands of the state government, he said the government was sensitive to their problems and was ready to offer all help to redress their grievances.
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