Garhshankar, May 3, 2025:
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today presided over the Youth Club Leadership Program organized by the Aam Aadmi Party in Garhshankar, where he inspired young people to work in the interest of the nation.
In his motivating address, the Chief Minister urged the youth to take a leading role in nation-building. Addressing young volunteers of the Aam Aadmi Party who had gathered from various districts of Punjab, he stated that the youth are the true strength of the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann recalled that freedom fighters like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and Kartar Singh Sarabha sacrificed their lives for the nation at a very young age.
The Chief Minister said Shaheed Bhagat Singh was martyred at 23, and Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha at just 19, Yet they continue to live in the hearts of every Indian. He further said that Their sacrifice ensures that Bhagat Singh will always be remembered as 23 and Sarabha as 19. Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized that Kartar Singh Sarabha’s family owned over 300 acres of land at the time—he could have chosen a luxurious life by studying abroad—but instead, he dedicated everything to the nation.
The Chief Minister said that These martyrs remain our role models to this day. He added, “At an age when today’s youth are demanding motorcycles and cars from their parents, these martyrs were demanding independence from British rule. We must adopt their ideology in our own lives.” Referring to Chandrashekhar Azad’s plan to throw a bomb in the Assembly, Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was not originally part of the plan but volunteered for it, showing his deep commitment to patriotism and sacrifice.
The Chief Minister said that Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Rajguru could have negotiated with the British and lived longer lives, but they chose unwavering service to the nation instead. “We have lived three times the lifespan of those martyrs,” Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “so we must now shed all fear and work for the betterment of Punjab and the country.” Quoting Gurbani and Sufi literature, the he also shared a verse by Mian Muhammad Bakhsh: “God does not place the burden of responsibility on everyone—only those who are strong enough to bear it are chosen.”
The Chief Minister told the youth that they have been chosen for a reason and must now fulfill their responsibilities with full commitment. “You will find people trying to drag you down, and the path ahead may be slippery—but no matter the challenges, we must achieve our goals” he added. Bhagwant Singh Mann reminded them of Punjabi bravery: “We have stood up to warriors like Alexander and Aurangzeb. Our icons, Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, sacrificed their lives but never bowed. They were bricked alive but remained steadfast in their faith.”
Reflecting on his past, the Chief Minister said, “Earlier, as an artist, I used to visit villages and earn money. Today, as Chief Minister, I return to those same villages, repaying that money with interest in the form of government grants.”
He also addressed Punjab’s ongoing water crisis and the SYL (Sutlej-Yamuna Link) canal dispute. Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that Punjab never wanted conflict, but it has repeatedly been dragged into fights. Now, after border disputes, the state is being forced into a water war.
The Chief Minister said that he personally visited Nangal Dam to stop the release of excess water. “Punjab will no longer tolerate bullying,” he declared.
However, Bhagwant Singh Mann offered a practical solution to the Center, suggesting that if the water currently blocked from entering Pakistan is diverted into Punjab’s dams, then Punjab can supply water to Haryana through Bhakra. He also revealed that the Punjab government has written six times to the Haryana government, warning them about excessive water usage, but received no serious response.
The Chief Minister noted that as soon as the BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board) gave a verdict against Punjab, an all-party meeting was called, and a strong message was sent to the Center and Haryana. A special session of the Assembly has also been called on Monday to address the issue, he added. Bhagwant Singh Mann warned that many districts in Punjab have entered the “dark zone,” with groundwater levels dropping below 600 feet in some areas adding that In response, the government has resolved to supply water to every farm through canals.
The Youth Club Leadership Program in Garhshankar was also addressed by AAP Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia and several other senior leaders.
During the event, all youth participants pledged that this team of 117 will soon mobilize thousands and lakhs of young people to actively serve Punjab.
