The decision of the UPA government to set up a defence university in Haryana instead of Punjab has set the alarm bells ringing in the state.

Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal who was vociferous in his criticism of the UPA government alleging neglect of Punjab has now decided to build bridges with the Centre.

He spent an entire day in efforts that are being dubbed a ?building bridges exercise? with the Centre at the Punjab Civil Secretariat.

On Monday, Badal visited the national capital and called on several Union ministers and on Tuesday, Badal called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh besides a number of Union ministers. Sukhbir Singh Badal and recently elected MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also accompanied the chief minister. The father, son and daughter-in-law also called on the Union home minister P Chidambaram, defence minister AK Antony, commerce and industries minister, Anand Sharma.

With the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) in serious financial crisis following the decision of Punjab government to offer free power to the farm sector and subsidised power to the urban poor, his first priority was to catch up with union power ministry. Badal called on Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Monday to apprise him of the power needs of the state.

Confirming Badal?s visit to the Union minister, Harcharan Bains, media advisor to the chief minister, said that it was ?a courtesy call?. However, sources in the chief minister?s office told FE that bouquets reached a number of Union ministers prior to Badal?s visit.

Badal also called up union health minister. Ghulam Nabi Azad, union sports and youth affairs minister Manohar Singh Gill, union housing and tourism minister Kumari Selja, union renewable energy minister Farooq Abdullah and union human resources development minister Kapil Sibal on Monday.

Sources in Punjab chief minister?s office said that Punjab would try to get back the Indian National Defence University (INDU) initially considered for Punjab, but being set up now at Binola in Gurgaon, Haryana.

Punjab had offered land for the university but with Binola getting the approval of the centre, Haryana needs to acquire land, the cost of which will be borne by the Centre. Haryana has estimated that the tentative cost of land would come to over Rs 100 crore.

The total land requirement for the Indian National Defence University will be about 200 acres.