FM Manpreet Badal meets Rajnath Singh, seeks two Sainik Schools for Punjab

Tribune News Service
Bathinda, July 7

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi and urged him to approve two Sainik Schools for Punjab. He also sought an NOC from the Defence Ministry for establishing a bus terminus at Bathinda.

‘Provide NOC for bus terminus’

The Finance Minister requested the Defence Ministry to approve the proposal for a modern bus station and terminus for Bathinda city. Since the proposed location is adjacent to the Bathinda military cantonment, it requires a no objection certificate (NOC) from the ministry. Manpreet said all military norms had been adhered to. “The required papers for the NOC have been submitted to the Defence Headquarters, and an early approval will help expedite the project,” he said.

Manpreet said Punjab was the most decorated Indian state in terms of military honours and gallantry awards. However, it has only one Sainik School in Kapurthala. The state is now seeking two more Sainik Schools — one in Gurdaspur and the other in Bathinda. He said other states like Haryana, Bihar, and Maharashtra had two Sainik Schools each.

The Union Defence Minister assured him of due and adequate action, stating he appreciated the role played by Sikhs and Punjabis in national security.

Manpreet also presented a letter by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to the Union Defence Minister, stating the state government had allocated 40 acres of land at Dalla Gorian in Gurdaspur for a Sainik School. “However, Punjab must have another Sainik School in Bathinda. This way, all three regions of the state will have one school each,” said the state minister.

The Finance Minister also invited the Defence Minister to visit the Punjab War Heroes Memorial and Museum at Amritsar, which the Punjab Government has established at a cost of Rs 144 crore.