Peace with Pakistan will reinstate Punjab as a trade hub: PM
Monday February 5
By Ravinder Singh Robin
Amritsar, Feb 5 (ANI): In his first political rally after the announcement of Punjab Assembly polls, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that improved relations with Pakistan could reinstate the State as a top trade destination in the region. Addressing a public gathering of nearly 5000 people here, Singh said, "For the past two years or so, the Central Government has been trying hard to improve relations with Pakistan. So that old trade routes reopen and Amritsar become a major Indian trade hub again".
Recalling his emotional and professional ties with Amritsar and Punjab, Singh said that it is his dream that the Congress government once again come back in power in Punjab so that the trade with central Asian countries through Amritsar could be restarted.
He said that the residents of the border area would be immensely benefited with the international trade originated from Amritsar.
Pointing to his earlier promises made during his visits to Punjab, Singh said that it was due to the UPA government's policy that the relations with Pakistan was comparatively getting better.
While introducing Surinder Kumar Singla, Congress' Lok Sabha candidate from Amritsar and other candidates contesting the elections in the State, Singh asked the people of Punjab to elect Singla.
The Prime Minister praised Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for rejuvenating Punjab as an investment destination on the line of Bangalore and Hyderabd. "Because of terrorism that existed till sometime back, investors had started looking away from Punjab to other destinations like Bangalore and Hyderabd. I complement Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for rejuvenating investors' interest in the region again, who have now started coming back from Bangalore to Chandigarh, from Hyderabad to Mohali," said Singh.
However, he admitted that even after the commencement of the Capt. Amrinder Singh Government many projects were stared, but lots of progress has yet to be done for the betterment of the Punjab.
Addressing the rally, Captain Amrinder Singh said that the party was contesting the election as a battle for the future so that the development works in the state could carry forward.
He said that the government would take the state's economy to new high if they were chosen again to form the government in Punjab.
Earlier this morning, the Prime Minister was received at Raja Sansi Airport by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Congress' Punjab unit president Shamsher Singh Dullo.
The incumbent Congress government faces a tough challenge from an opposition alliance between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Besides Punjab, two other Congress-ruled states - Uttarakhand and Manipur - also are going to polls between February 8 and 23. (ANI)
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070205/139/6bt4k.html
Monday February 5
By Ravinder Singh Robin
Amritsar, Feb 5 (ANI): In his first political rally after the announcement of Punjab Assembly polls, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that improved relations with Pakistan could reinstate the State as a top trade destination in the region. Addressing a public gathering of nearly 5000 people here, Singh said, "For the past two years or so, the Central Government has been trying hard to improve relations with Pakistan. So that old trade routes reopen and Amritsar become a major Indian trade hub again".
Recalling his emotional and professional ties with Amritsar and Punjab, Singh said that it is his dream that the Congress government once again come back in power in Punjab so that the trade with central Asian countries through Amritsar could be restarted.
He said that the residents of the border area would be immensely benefited with the international trade originated from Amritsar.
Pointing to his earlier promises made during his visits to Punjab, Singh said that it was due to the UPA government's policy that the relations with Pakistan was comparatively getting better.
While introducing Surinder Kumar Singla, Congress' Lok Sabha candidate from Amritsar and other candidates contesting the elections in the State, Singh asked the people of Punjab to elect Singla.
The Prime Minister praised Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for rejuvenating Punjab as an investment destination on the line of Bangalore and Hyderabd. "Because of terrorism that existed till sometime back, investors had started looking away from Punjab to other destinations like Bangalore and Hyderabd. I complement Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for rejuvenating investors' interest in the region again, who have now started coming back from Bangalore to Chandigarh, from Hyderabad to Mohali," said Singh.
However, he admitted that even after the commencement of the Capt. Amrinder Singh Government many projects were stared, but lots of progress has yet to be done for the betterment of the Punjab.
Addressing the rally, Captain Amrinder Singh said that the party was contesting the election as a battle for the future so that the development works in the state could carry forward.
He said that the government would take the state's economy to new high if they were chosen again to form the government in Punjab.
Earlier this morning, the Prime Minister was received at Raja Sansi Airport by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Congress' Punjab unit president Shamsher Singh Dullo.
The incumbent Congress government faces a tough challenge from an opposition alliance between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Besides Punjab, two other Congress-ruled states - Uttarakhand and Manipur - also are going to polls between February 8 and 23. (ANI)
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070205/139/6bt4k.html
