Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan on Tuesday launched a cleanliness and plantation drive in Bathinda under the Centre’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign and called for greater efforts to address environmental challenges.
On his first visit to Bathinda, Paswan said the plantation campaign would continue till June 21. Stressing the need for environmental conservation, he said rising temperatures, frequent heat waves and changing weather patterns were a matter of concern.
“Rainfall is becoming irregular and winters are no longer arriving on time. Farmers are also facing difficulties due to climate change. We have to work extensively on environmental issues,” he said.
Referring to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, the minister said people from the region earlier had to travel to Delhi or Ludhiana for advanced medical treatment, but quality healthcare facilities were now available in Bathinda itself. He said he would also visit the institute during his tour.
Launching a political attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state, Paswan alleged that law and order in the state had deteriorated and drug abuse was affecting a large section of the youth. “Punjab is increasingly falling into the grip of drugs. We need to work for the welfare of the youth,” he said, appealed to people to vote out the present government.
Targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Paswan said the state needed a responsible government, and accused the Chief Minister of indulging in rhetoric rather than governance.
Taking a swipe at the AAP government’s welfare schemes, Paswan said thr BJP believed in the politics of development. “A state can not build a strong economic structure merely through freebies and such measures will not make a state stronger in the long run. Emphasising the need for sustainable growth, the government must work at the ground level and focus on development oriented initiatives that create lasting benefits for people,” Paswan said.
He said the BJP was expanding its support base in Punjab. He said the party was committed to development, de-addiction and public welfare.
On the issue of rising fuel and LPG prices, Paswan attributed the increase to tensions in the Middle East. He said the matter was a concern and that the Centre was working to address it.
