Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has maintained that the first session of “Bolda Punjab – Punjab Dialogue” got overwhelming response from youth. AAP says that issues of unemployment, menace of drug-abuse, deteriorated standard of education and lack in women safety emerged as key issues concerning youth, who were looking for political change to find out solutions of these.
Notably, AAP began its “Bolda Punjab – Punjab Dialogue” initiative yesterday (April 23) from Mohali to finalize its poll manifesto. The gathering of youth was held at Orchid Resort at Landra in Mohali. A release by AAP says youngsters thronged the venue to share their views on burning issues and its possible solutions.
Senior Journalist and Head of the “Punjab Dialogue” Kanwar Sandhu along with senior AAP leaders Ashish Khetan, Sanjay Singh, Sucha Singh, Chhotepur, Bhagwant Mann and , Harjot Bains gave a patient hearting to the concerns of youth and preferred to listen them rather than addressing.
AAP leaders listening to speakers
A view of gathering
Registration of bogus cases against youth was one of the key issues came up during Punjab Dialogue for which AAP leaders promises setting up of a Commission to review such cases and fix responsibility of erring police officials.
Enthusiastic youth with hope of solutions to their issues, freely aired their concerns with AAP leaders and blamed the present regime of SAD-BJP as mother of all problems being faced by them.
When one of the unemployed youth complained of repeated assault on linemen, teachers, anganwari workers and others at SAD-BJP rallies, Sandhu assured them that all such cases will be reviewed and considered sympathically when AAP come to power. “There will be an absolute rule of law” Sandhu assured them.
Sandhu & Khetan after listening to the youth said “issues of Education, Health and Unemployment will be focused area of poll manifesto. We have come to know the problems through Punjab Dialogue and will find out the solutions of these to be incorporated in the agenda of AAP”.
“Like Delhi AAP will bring Govt schools in Punjab at par with the best in the private sector and new schools will be opened with the massive improvement in the existing schools”, Khetan added.
On the menace of drug-abuse in Punjab, Khetan said that presently the police is cracking on drug-addicts only while patronizing the drug-paddlers. Once AAP is voted to power, not only supply chain of the drugs would be snapped by putting drug lords in jail within three months, for rehabilitation of the drug-addicts both private and government hospitals would be roped in for the purpose, Khetan added.
For unemployment, there is no survey conducted after 1978 resulted in huge gap between demands of jobs and creation of opportunities by policy makers, Sandhu said adding that there is no link between the industry and education, which multiplied the problem of unemployment.
“Self-entrepreneurship will be emphasized by imparting special skill development training in ITIs to youth”, AAP leader Khetan said revealing that small scale industry would be upgraded in the state to promote entrepreneurship.
On the pattern of Delhi, Education loan at lower rate of interest would be provided to students, which they may pay back after getting job, Khetan said vowing that there is a need to channelize energy of youth in right direction.
AAP leader Bhagwant Mann said Badal Government is patting its back on the massive increase in the Blue Cards for ‘Atta-Dal’ Scheme year by year, ignoring the fact that due to its failure only this increase was witnessed, he added.