FM objects to his name at inauguration

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 14

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Sunday refused to inaugurate an auditorium at SSD Girls College and asked the management to first remove his name from the inauguration plate.

Later, the college management covered the Finance Minister’s name with a tape and assured that they would remove it soon. Thereafter, Manpreet inaugurated the auditorium.

Harjot Singh Sidhu, media advisor to the Finance Minister, said, “Finance Minister Manpreet Badal is sticking to his government’s stand over ‘No names of the Punjab Government functionaries on foundation stones’, due to which he asked the college management to remove his name”.

Addressing the gathering at SSD Girls College, Manpreet Singh Badal congratulated the management for providing better infrastructure at the institution.

The event began with lighting of a lamp, after which the ‘Ganesh Vandana’ was performed by students. Advocate Sandeep Bhagla delivered the welcome address.

The students presented a cultural programme. Semi-classical dance was presented by students of Women’s Institute of Technology (WIT). Bhangra was performed by students of SSD College of Education, Bathinda, and giddha was presented by students of SSD Girls’ College. The programme concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.

Earlier during the day, Manpreet Badal, while visiting various city areas, announced many development works.

He gave a cheque for Rs 70 lakh for the construction of a bridge on the Joganand road near Sirhind Canal, which is to be come up at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore.

Manpreet said after the allotment of the tender of the bridge, work on it would be started by Wednesday. He said the bridge would provide big relief to the residents.

Manpreet Badal also initiated the work of laying sewerage from Model Town Phase 4-5 to Amarpura Basti. He said the work would be completed by June 30, 2019.

Later, he also held a meeting at Teachers Colony where residents raised problems of roads, footpath and streetlights. He assured them of getting the work done at the earliest.

The Finance Minister also directed Powercom officials to prepare an estimate of laying underground wires in the city.