Saddest day of my political life

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091209/bathinda.htm#6

Manpreet condemns Assembly incident
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha, December 8
Condemning the incident that took place at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today, finance and planning minister Manpreet Singh Badal termed it the saddest day of his political life.

Talking to this correspondent during a cultural event here, Manpreet avoided targeting the leaders in person but lamented, “Vidhan Sabha is a sacred place. If we, the elected representatives, would behave in such a hostile manner, what would we ask public to follow?”

“Moreover, across the party lines, we all know each other personally. The scuffle in which turbans of some leaders fell on ground will leave nothing but embarrassment to all,” he said.

Replying to the speculation about levying octroi again, Manpreet said, “A two-member committee is analysing pros and cons. As of now, I could not see its report. I can comment on the issue only after seeing it.”

“Being a finance minister, I can say only one thing, whatever adds to the revenue of the state, is always welcome,” said Manpreet.

While talking about the achievements of the ruling government in the past about three-year period, the minister also spoke about a number of projects, which were yet to see the light of the day. He said, “I accept that many of projects are yet to take off but I am a bit satisfied with the fact that we have been putting efforts continuously.”

“It is not the financial crisis but the lack of spirit among the people, which has been proving a major hurdle in the implementation of proposals,” said Manpreet.

Denying any conflict with his cousin and deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, Manpreet said he respected him a lot. Meanwhile, he maintained, “Being planning minister, I have to take various decisions, which are future-oriented and sometimes not accepted by others. Moreover, while performing the duty, I focus upon the welfare of the state rather than anything else.”

2009 Budget speech

I have received requests for my budget speech. I am uploading the videos of the budget speech here.

Manpreet Badal exhorts officers to cope with modern system

Manpreet Badal exhorts officers to cope with modern system

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/21246/138/
Punjab Newsline Network
Wednesday, 25 November 2009

CHANDIGARH: Manpreet Singh Badal, Finance Minister Punjab exhorted the officers of the department of Finance to cope up with the needs of modern system of financial control and account maintenance of government expenditure and receipts.

While addressing the first ever state level Conference of the officers of the department of Finance here Tuesday Badal said that all the 21 district treasuries and 69 sub treasuries located in various districts of the state of Punjab including Chandigarh have been computerized adding a lot of efficiency in monitoring of government revenue and expenditure. He also said that financial frauds and embezzlements have also been checked by utilizing computers and least manpower.

Responding to the long pending issues of the officers of the Finance Department including the filling up of the vacant posts, the Minister has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary Finance which would submit its report within three weeks and posts would be filled within six months, he said. To sort out all the operational difficulties and in order to streamline the functioning of the department, Mr. Badal along with the district level officers took a pledge to wipe out corruption, poverty communalism and anti-national activities to evolve a healthy nation.

Adding further, Badal said that Internal Audit Wing for conducting audit of major revenue earning departments like Transport, Excise and Taxation, Revenue, Chief Electrical Inspector of government of Punjab would go a long way to plug the loopholes and toning up the quality of assessment and collection of revenue. He also said that internal audit organization has shown a remarkable increase in the revenue and recoveries on account of various audit reports.

Speaking on the occasion Raj Kumar Khurana, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Finance said that the present government when elected to power two and a half years back got empty coffers and it was with the concerted efforts of Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal and farsighted vision of Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal, State has once again achieved the targets of generating revenue through resource mobilization.

Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary Expenditure and Mr. C.S.Talwar, Special Secretary, Finance also addressed the officers.

Lala Lajpat Rai remembered on his martyrdom day

Lala Lajpat Rai remembered on his martyrdom day

http://www.ptinews.com/news/381638_Lala-Lajpat-Rai-remembered-on-his-martyrdom-day

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_lala-lajpatrai-remembered-on-his-martyrdom-day_1312918

Moga, Nov 17 (PTI) Eminent freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai was today remembered on his 81st martyrdom day at his native village Dhudike here.
A large number of people paid their tributes to Lajpat Rai, also known as ‘Punjab Kesari’.
The Lala Lajpat Rai Birth Place Memorial committee organised a function in which Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal was the chief guest.
Badal paid floral tributes at Lalaji’s memorial and then went around the martyrs’ gallery at the memorial.
Later addressing the gathering at the memorial, Manpreet Badal lauded the role of freedom fighters and said that it was because of them, the country got independence.

Stop tax sops to HP, J&K: Manpreet

Stop tax sops to HP, J&K: Manpreet
Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091115/punjab.htm#13

Jalandhar, November 14
The development of neighbouring states should not be at the cost of Punjab and the Centre should revise its policy of giving long-term concessions to such states.

Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, who was in the city to attend a programme organised by the Sainik Wefare Board, said the state was suffering economically on account of subsidies to the neighbouring states. In fact, the Centre should do away with giving such tax holidays and give cash incentives instead, he added.

Punjab was suffering industrially as the taxes were higher here and entrepreneurs find it a better proposition to invest in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. “All this had an adverse effect on the industrial sector, leading us to believe that the Centre was meting a step-motherly treatment to us”, he pointed out.

Badal said one of the main reasons behind the poor fiscal health of the state was the stagnation in the industrial sector. No state could make significant progress without a solid industrial base, he added.

He said the Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime would be implemented in the country from April and this would go a long way in filling the coffers of the state.

Commenting on the waiver of the debt incurred in battling militancy, he said they were hopeful of some relief but would only come to know after the recommendations of the 13 Finance Commission report would be out in December.

Expressing concern on the decline in the number of Punjabis serving in the armed forces, he said they would initiate steps to reverse the trend. “I will take up the issue with the CM and urge him to announce a grant of Rs 1 lakh per year for every Punjabi, who makes it to the National Defence Academy”, he said.