Keep PM out of purview of Lokpal: Badal

Badal said the Prime Minister has to discharge “extremely sensitive duties while dealing with several international and diplomatic issues,which warranted certain norms to maintain the secrecy of office”.

He,however,said all Chief Ministers and the entire judiciary including the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts should be included in the ambit of the Lokpal.

Badal accused the Congress-led UPA government of failing miserably to curb poverty,illiteracy and unemployment despite its tall claims of safeguarding the interests of the poor and disadvantage sections of the society.

On the proposed sit-in protest across the state on June 16 by the SAD against corruption and high inflation,Badal said it would be a wake up call to remind the Congress-led central government of its democratic duties towards society.

Badal also demanded that the Centre immediately initiate effective steps to bring back the black money stashed in the foreign banks.

On the political prospects of yoga guru Ramdev,the Chief Minister said he was not a politician but only a yoga teacher who led a social cause to weed out corruption and bring back black money to the country from abroad.

On the issue of militant Davinderpal Singh Bhullar’s clemency plea against his death sentence being rejected by the President,Badal said SAD had already taken up the issue with the President to review his mercy petition.

Replying to a query on criticism by the Congress of the one-day session of the state Assembly,the Chief Minister said the session was deliberately kept for a day as the only business was the election of the Deputy Speaker.

He,however,said the state government would definitely hold a session of the Assembly in September to meet its constitutional obligation.

The Chief Minister said all sports clubs in the state would be provided sports kits within a month to clear the menace of drug addiction among youth. He also announced that equipment for gymnasiums in villages would also be given for the youth to channelise their energy in a constructive manner.