Chandigarh, July 10 :
In a significant step towards women empowerment, the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has decided to send 1,500 of the best-performing women Sarpanch/ Panchs to Nanded Sahib to pay obeisance.
Providing details, the Chief Minister said the initiative is being undertaken to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib. He said that the state government will bear the entire cost of boarding and lodging for these women Sarpanch/ Panchs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Special trains will be arranged to facilitate their visit to the sacred site, where they will also receive training in Maharashtra.
The Chief Minister emphasized that Nanded Sahib holds immense spiritual importance for every Punjabi, and many aspire to visit it at least once in their lifetime. He added that these women Sarpanch/ Panch exemplify the spirit of women empowerment, and the government wants to honor their contributions by enabling them to undertake this pilgrimage. Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed hope that these Sarpanch/ Panchs would pray for peace, progress, and prosperity for the state and its people adding that the government is finalizing all necessary modalities to ensure the smooth execution of this initiative.
The Chief Minister further stated that the previous Congress government had agreed to deploy CISF personnel to protect dams across Punjab. However, he announced that the current government would introduce a resolution in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday to reverse this decision. Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that the Punjab Police is fully capable of safeguarding the state’s interests, noting, “If Punjabis can guard the nation’s borders, they can certainly protect their own dams.”
In a sharp political jab, the Chief Minister advised Sunil Jakhar to focus on saving his party and position rather than commenting on other issues. He remarked that the former Congress leader, now in the BJP, is rattled by the saffron party’s recent defeat in the Ludhiana by-election. Bhagwant Singh Mann criticized such leaders for frequently switching allegiances and showing little concern for the people of Punjab.
Highlighting reforms in the state police, the Chief Minister noted that efforts are underway to enhance manpower and resources in the Punjab Police, which hasn’t seen a manpower increase in years. He said the government is committed to strengthening the force’s efficiency and upholding its proud legacy. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is the bounden duty of the government in the larger interest of state and its people.
The Chief Minister also declared that the government would expose the “dubious character” of opposition leaders, including those from the Congress, during the upcoming Vidhan Sabha session. He accused leaders like Jakhar and Bajwa of raising baseless issues adding that they were least bothered about state during their days in power. Speaking on drug-related issues, Bhagwant Singh Mann blamed the Akali regime for fostering the drug trade, noting that the kingpin of the ‘Chitta’ (synthetic drugs) racket is currently lodged in Nabha jail adding that those responsible would face legal consequences for their actions.
The Chief Minister also criticized certain Kisan Unions, alleging that they no longer represent genuine farmer interests and have instead become self-serving entities. He reiterated the state’s commitment to curbing illegal colonies through its proposed land pooling policy. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the self proclaimed farmer leaders are trying to mislead people on this issue.
Finally, taking aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said that while the PM finds time to tour foreign countries, he fails to address the concerns of 140 crore Indians. He criticized Modi for celebrating foreign honors from countries with populations as small as 10,000 while neglecting the nation’s pressing issues. “This reflects the sorry state of affairs in the country,” Bhagwant Singh Mann said.
