Harsimrat pays tributes to freedom fighters

Khatkar Kalan (Punjab), Aug 17 (PTI) Union Ministerfor Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal today paidtributes to freedom fighters here as part of the countrywidecelebrations of 70 years of Independence. Kaur, while paying tributes to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev andRajguru at a state level function, said a statue of AjitSingh, uncle of Bhagat Singh, would be set up at KhatkarKalan, the ancestral village of the great martyr. She said by dedicating the whole year to the martyrs offreedom movement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set a newprecedent in the country in remembrance of the martyrs. During her maiden visit to Doaba, she lauded the Modigovernment for "enhancing country’s image both inthe country and abroad". "India is considered the only bright spot in theotherwise highly depressed economy in the world," she said,adding Modi had not only provided a "corruption-freegovernment" to the country during the last 24 months but alsoensured all its policies were aimed at "improving theconditions of the poor." "Doubling the income of the country’s farmers in thenext five years is the next aim of Modi government," theUnion minister said, while maintaining that skill developmentwas another priority area of the Modi government. Listing pro-people schemes of the Modi government likeJan-dhan scheme, Atal-pension scheme and crop insurancescheme for farmers, she said the state’s issues "were beingheard" now in the Union ministry, something which was"missing" during the Congress rule despite the presence of anumber of ministers in the Union government from Punjab. Referring to her own ministry, she said with thesetting up of three mega-food parks in the state, the earningsof farmers would get a boost as it would ensure "remunerativeprices" for their produce. She urged industrialists of the state to come forwardto set up food parks and cold chains in Punjab for which theCentre was providing "high subsidies and tax concessions onVAT". Kaur said the foundation stone of the proposed AIIMS atBathinda would be laid soon and would be ready within the nexttwo years. Earlier, the Union Minister met war widows andheard their grievances. Families of martyrs and war widowswere also honoured on the occasion. To a question on AAP’s impact on SAD poll prospects inthe upcoming state elections, she said it would meet the samefate as that of People’s Party of Punjab (PPP). PTI Corr CHSAQS RGAQS