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Badal favours Presidential system

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is also president of the ruling Akali Dal-Badal, says a Presidential form of government would be more suitable for the country than the present parliamentary one.

In an informal chat with newspersons in Amritsar, he said there was no harm in debating this issue as proposed by Home Minister L K Advani. It was unfortunate that Opposition parties were opposing the Presidential form of government just because the proposal had come from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He, however, clarified that these were his personal views, and the issue had not yet been discussed in the party forum.

Favouring the revival of the legislative council in the state, Badal said the proposal was mooted by the previous Congress government and had been sent to the Centre for approval.

Asked about his government's priorities, Badal said a great emphasis was being laid on the power sector and repair of highways and link roads. The completion of first phase of the Thein dam had been delayed by about three months due to some technicalities. However, with its completion, Punjab would become the first state to have surplus power, he said while clarifying that there was no shortage of funds for this project.

Badal said there was no question of reviewing the free power and water concession given to the agricultural sector. Farmers had for long been neglected and exploited, he said, while pointing out that land holdings wee decreasing and rising cost of inputs had brought down profits.

The chief minister also ruled out the possibility of a mid-term poll. He said none of the political parties favoured mid-term elections. Precious time, energy and resources could be utilised elsewhere, he added.

The chief minister, who is leading the party's campaign for the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha by-election, said his main thrust during the campaign would be on his government's performance.

UNI

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