Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced the constitution of a cabinet subcommittee with both Kalia and Sukhbir as its members to find a solution to the BJP’s demand for forming two new districts in the state. The BJP wants Pathankot and Fazilka — both with a strong BJP vote bank--- as districts. BJP legislator from Fazilka Surjit Kumar Jiyani is on fast since yesterday, seeking the declaration of Fazilka as a district.
Making things difficult for his own party, Jagdish Raj Sawhney, BJP legislator from Batala,has threatened to launch an agitation against the government if Batala was bypassed to make Pathankot a district. While Sawhney is a former Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Pathankot is represented by the BJP leader and Transport Minister, Master Mohan Lal.
The BJP, which wants two districts and some new subdivisions carved out in the state,has in the past questioned the rationale behind making districts like Barnala that has only 120 villages, two nagar panchayats and one municipality. Similarly, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district comprises only two tehsils of Nawanshahr and Balachaur. Fatehgarh Sahib, also a new district, comprises four subdivisions of Amloh, Bassi Pathana, Fatehgarh Sahib and Khanna. The BJP has accused the SAD of appeasing its own vote bank, while doing nothing for the BJP vote bank.
Though Sukhbir and Kalia are reported to have ironed out many issues creating a chasm between their parties, the two are yet to look for practical ways to meet the BJP’s demand. For example, the creation of the new districts is likely to cost between Rs 150 crore and Rs 200 crore each. The state has no money to spare at present.Besides, the state is short of civil servants, especially PCS officers, who will be required to be deployed in the new districts.
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