STRENGTHENING OF FEDERAL STRUCTURE IS NEED OF HOUR TO SAVE COUNTRY AND STATES: SPEAKER KULTAR SINGH SANDHWAN

IEP Chandigarh, April 15

The strengthening of the federal structure is very important to save the country and states, said Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan here today during a seminar on “Federalism in the Country-Challenges and Possibilities” organized by the “Pind Bachao-Punjab Bachao” organization in collaboration with Central Sri Guru Singh Sabha.S. Sandhwan said that the issue of federal structure has become more important for us in the current situation.For the safety of the country and to see the country becoming stronger, the Speaker said, the federal structure has to be protected. The responsibility to protect the federal structure has been on the shoulders of Punjab for the centuries. The Speaker said that the people of Punjab and Bengal have always raised their voice against injustice and will have to do so now.  He emphasised that Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the biggest source of the federal structure for us, which gives an equal place to everyone.S. Sandhwan said, the country cannot be kept in a unitary system, but its beauty lies in unity in diversity, adding that there are linguistic, geographical and cultural etc. differences in the country and it is possible to see them together as a force only in the federal structure.He lamented that the institutions which were supposed to strengthen the constitution and democracy have been eliminated in recent times. The federal structure has been hurt by bringing GST in the country. Similarly, IAS is being given upper hand over CAG. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has not even looked at blue eyed businessman Gautam Adani, while everyone is being targeted. He said that the country is a body which needs oxygen or blood supply through the veins of federalism to keep it running.The seminar was also addressed by former parliamentarian Dr.  Dharamvir Gandhi, MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, former media advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains, senior journalist S.  Hamir Singh, farmer leader.  Ranjit Singh, Mr.  Malvinder Singh Mali, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Prof. Pyare Lal Garg.