AAP to open village clinics in Punjab

Gurminder 

Singh Grewal

Khanna, October 23

If voted to power in the coming state Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party will open village clinics in all villages of Punjab on the pattern of Delhi, said Delhi Chief Minister and AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal here today. 

He said mohalla clinics in Delhi were a grand success and this pattern would be used in Punjab as well to save people from expensive medical help. 

He said 106 mohalla clinics were opened in Delhi and now, this count would go up to 1,000 till the end of this year. 

He said village clinics would be opened in almost all villages apart from mohalla clinics in cities.

While referring to a speculation by some quarters that AAP would not be able to take funds for the development of the state, he said he would go to the Modi government with folded hands to get development funds, but also made it clear that if the Centre failed to give proper funds, he knows how to get funds through agitation. 

He made it clear that he would gherao the Central government in Delhi with the help of people of the state to get their rights, as he knew how to get their right through agitation.

He said AAP would launch the Delhi model to compensate farmers — 20,000 per acre in case of natural calamity.

He said Punjab would be a formidable state if AAP came to power and the industrial and agriculture produce and other products of state would be exported the world over. He said there was no need to worry from Chinese products.

Kejriwal calls Captain a joint candidate of Congress and Akali Dal

While terming a secret pact between the Congress and Akali Dal, he called Captain Amarinder Singh as a joint candidate of the Congress and the Akali Dal as the Akali Dal had totally lost hope and Congress was also afraid of AAP.

Says industry would be brought back to state

He assured that the industry that had migrated to other states would be brought back and VAT rates would be lowered. Before his speech, Dialogue Committee Chairman Kanwar Sandhu released the industry manifesto comprising 21 points. 

State convener AAP Gurpreet Singh Waraich and MP Bhagwant Mann also addressed the gathering. The stage was conducted by AAP candidate from Amloh Gurpreet Singh Bhatti and party leader Sanjay Singh, Delhi MLA Jarnail Singh, HS Phoolka and other candidates of AAP from different places also attended the function. Before addressing the function, Kejriwal also visited the grain market and inspected the purchase and had talks with some commission agents. 

Mahila Cong workers show bangles, black flags

Khanna: Some Mahila Congress workers led by Nisha Sharma and Shankuntla demonstrated black flags near the venue.  They tried to show black flags to the cavalcade of Kejriwal near the venue, but were cordoned by the police personal. They raised slogans when Kejriwal’s cavalcade passed near them, but failed to present any stiff resistance. The protesters were carrying placards with message such as ‘Aap Ashiqi Party’ written on them. They said AAP leaders had no respect for women and they were disrespecting them with wrong doings. They dispersed after the cavalcade of Kejriwal passed. — Gurminder Singh Grewal

Traderspeak

Ludhiana industrialists have mixed views to AAP's trade, transport and industry manifesto released by the party on Sunday. While some consider it a good manifesto, others say there is nothing new that may bring growth to the industry. Here is what they have to say:

• It is a good manifesto for the revival of trade and industry which is languishing in the state. The need for reduction of VAT, setting up of exhibition centres, ease of doing business were long-pending demands of the industry, which have been addressed in the manifesto. End of corruption and inspector raj augurs well for the industry. — Vinod Thapar, President, Ludhiana Knitwear Club
• I wouldn't even call it a manifesto as it hasn't addressed the issue of growth of the industry. Moreover, some of the issues, which it talks about, have already been addressed by the government, including lowering of electricity cost, ending of inspector raj for several sectors. — Gurmeet Singh Kular, Chairman, United Cycle Parts Manufacturers' Association
• There is no policy in the manifesto, which is innovative or new. It is like a political dialogue - finding loopholes in the present system and not addressing the issues of the industry. Anybody can highlight loopholes, but what new thing has been brought for the development and growth of the industry? — MM Vyas, President, Spinners' Association