Akali MPs skip Harsimrat’s meet on border dist

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, February 26

Akali MPs Sher Singh Ghubaya and Ranjit Singh Brahmpura skipped a meeting presided over by fellow SAD parliamentarian and Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal here today.

The meeting was held to take stock of the development parameters required to uplift the economic condition of people in the border district, which figures among the 115 most backward districts in the country.

The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had envisaged a special plan for the development of these districts, including Ferozepur and Moga, by 2022.

Local Congress MLA Parminder Singh Pinki was present at the meeting. Three other party MLAs were represented by their aides.

Deputy Commissioner Ramvir said a formal invitation was sent to both MPs. RK Chowdhary, Joint Secretary of the Central Government, and officials of various government departments also attended the meeting.

Pinki apprised the minister of problems being faced by border residents, including unemployment, lack of healthcare and education facilities.

When contacted, the Ferozepur MP (Ghubaya) said he was informed about the meeting only a day ago, so he was not able to make it as he was out of town. Brahmpura, Khadoor Sahib MP, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.