IEP Khatkar Kalan (SBS Nagar), September 28

 In a big bonanza to people on birth anniversary of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today announced to resume Shaheed Bhagat Singh Yuva award and setting up of chair at Guru Nanak Dev university in name of legendary martyr. Addressing the gathering here during a state level function to mark birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, the Chief Minister said that the award will bestowed to 46 youth every year for their outstanding contribution in several fields. He said that the award winners will get cash money worth Rs 51,000 along with appreciation certificate. Bhagwant Mann bemoaned that this award was stopped around seven years back but will be resumed now. The Chief Minister further announced that the state government will set up a chair on name of Shaheed Bhagat Singh at Guru Nanak Dev university, Amritsar. He said that the chair will undertake extensive research on life and philosophy of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Bhagwant Mann said that this will help in inspiring the coming generations for serving the country. The Chief Minister exhorted the people to vow that they will not leave the country in search of good fortunes. He said that all of us should pledge that we will improve the system by living here rather than fleeing away in search of green pastures. Bhagwant Mann assured the people that state government is committed for restoring the pristine glory of Punjab. The Chief Minister said that the dreams of Shaheed-e-Azam still remain unfulfilled as corruption, nepotism and poverty still rule the roost. He said that those who came into power after Britishers plundered the country more mercilessly than the foreigners. Bhagwant Mann said that he is peeved to hear when some people say that the rule of Britishers was better than this day adding that this notion needs to be changed The Chief Minister also called upon people to rise above the parochial consideration of caste, communalism and creed to make India number one. He said that it will be real tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Singh and other freedom fighters who had laid their lives at altar of motherland. Bhagwant Mann also called upon youth to come forward and carve out a country of Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s dream. The Chief Minister bemoaned that it is unfortunate that these days some people are raising questions of sacrifice of the martyrs. He said that no one has any right to pose question mark over the contribution of great martyrs for their motherland. Bhagwant Mann reminded the people that when our great national heroes and martyrs were waging war against the atrocious British regime some traitors were siding with the imperialist forces adding that no one remember such people now. The Chief Minister also announced that the state government will install a 5D statue  of Shaheed Bhagat Singh near the International Airport at Mohali. He said that the hi-tech statue will inspire the younger generations to serve the country zealously. Bhagwant Mann also asked the youth to read more and more books to update their knowledge to cope up with challenges being faced by the country. The Chief Minister said that while the 23 years old youth of today demands motorcycle from his parents, Shaheed Bhagat Singh had sought freedom for country from Britishers in same age. He said that youth should widen their prospective by reading more and more books. Bhagwant Mann said that it will help in fulfilling the dreams of legendary martyr. The Chief Minister also recalled that two days were most important in his life. He said that one was December 28 when Lok Sabha had paid tributes to chotta sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh on their martyrdom day after he had pursued the matter with then Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and other was today as Mohali airport has been named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Bhagwant Mann said that both the days are of immense importance in his life. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also felicitated the descendants of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Shaheed Sukhdev. On the occasion Cabinet Ministers Brahm Shankar Jimpa and AnmolGagan Mann, Deputy Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Jai Krishan Singh Rori, MLAs Santosh Kataria and Jaswinder Singh Ramdass, Chairman Punjab Agro Mangal Singh and others. Prominent amongst others present on occasion included Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua, Special Principal Secretary to CM Ravi Bhagat, Additional Director General of Police PK Sinha, Commissioner Sumer Singh Gurjar, Inspector General of Police SPS Parmar, Deputy Commissioner Navjot Pal Randhawa and Senior Superintendent of Police Bhagirath Meena.  

IEP Hussainiwala, September 28

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today called upon the youth of state to follow ideals of Shaheed Bhagat Singh to make Punjab a front runner state in the country.

The Chief Minister laid floral tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev here on Wednesday during which a contingent of Punjab Police gave guard of honour as a mark of respect.

The Chief Minister said that all of us have to make strenuous efforts to realise the dreams of martyrs. He said that it is the need of hour to restore the pristine glory of the state. Bhagwant Mann said that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was not only an individual but an institution adding that we must follow his footsteps for progress of country.

The Chief Minister said that the supreme sacrifice of Shaheed Bhagat Singh will ever inspire youth to serve the country. He said that apart from emancipating the country from foreign clutches Shaheed Bhagat Singh had also envisioned a corruption and poverty free India. However, Bhagwant Mann said that the country is still facing these problems.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced to upgrade Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University. He said that new courses will be introduced in the university so that more and more jobs can be created for the youth. Bhagwant Mann said that this will prove to be boon for the youth of border district.

On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Fauza Singh Sarari, MLAs Ranbir Singh Bhullar, Rajnish Dahiya, Naresh Kataria, Jagdeep Goldi, Gurdit Singh Sekhon and Narinder Pal Sawna, Special Principal Secretary to CM Ravi Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner Ferozepur Amrit Singh, SSP Ferozepur Surinder Lamba and others were also present.

IEP Faridkot, September 24

Slamming the opposition parties as ‘chronic liars’, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said that instead of working for the well being of people these leaders are habitual of finding faults in every pro-people initiative of the state government.

The Chief Minister, while addressing the gathering after paying obeisance at Tilla Baba Sheikh Farid, said that these leaders have no other work except criticizing the several citizen centric decisions taken by the state government. He said that in dearth of any concrete issue these leaders are criticizing the state government only for the sake of criticism. Bhagwant Mann said that undeterred by it the state government will continue to work for the well being of the people and development of the state.

The Chief Minister announced that the state government will leave no stone unturned for making Punjab free from corruption, drugs, unemployment and other maladies. He solicited fulsome support and cooperation of people for this noble cause adding that this work cannot be accomplished without their support. Bhagwant Mann said that the entire government mechanism is with the people of the state to get rid of these maladies, which have made deep inroads during the regimes of previous governments.

The Chief Minister asserted that the previous governments have plundered the public wealth mercilessly. He said that the successive governments in the state have even surpassed Britishers in looting the taxpayers money. However, Bhagwant Mann said that his government will recover every single penny from these corrupt leaders and optimally utilize it for the welfare of people. 

The Chief Minister, while listing several path breaking initiatives of his government, said that the Aam Aadmi government is providing corruption free governance to the people adding that pilferages in the public money have been plugged and now that money is being used for the state and its people. He said that his government has passed the historic ‘One MLA, One Pension’ scheme to ensure judicious utilization of public funds. Likewise, Bhagwant Mann said that around 100 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been dedicated across the state to people for imparting quality health services.

The Chief Minister said that till date more than two lakh patients have availed free treatment in these clinics and more than 30,000 blood tests have been conducted so far, that too without any cost, in these clinics. Bhagwant Mann said that apart from ensuring quality health facilities to people, this has also reduced extra burden on big hospitals. Similarly, he said that 600 units of free power are being provided to lakhs of households across the state.

The Chief Minister further said that on one hand the process for new recruitment has been started and on the other wheels have also been set in motion to regularize the jobs of contractual employees. Likewise, he said that the state government will soon embark on a scheme to provide Atta Dal to the beneficiaries at their doorsteps. Bhagwant Mann also said that pensions will also be disbursed to the eligible beneficiaries at their homes. 

The Chief Minister further said that the state government is organizing ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Dian’ to promote sports culture in the state. Describing fairs as a tradition of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann said that this legacy must be kept alive to restore the pristine glory of the state. He said that these fairs provide a platform to individuals to get knowledge about the cultures, traditions and talents of the other states.

Paying glowing tributes to Baba Sheikh Farid ji , the Chief Minister described him as one of the greatest spiritual ambassadors, poet prophet and founder of ‘Sufi’ tradition in India. He said that Baba Farid ji’s philosophy of humanism and spirituality based on the principles of love, compassion, equality, humility, brotherhood and freedom reigned supreme and was all pervasive. Bhagwant Mann further said that the life and philosophy of Baba Farid ji was very much relevant in today’s materialistic society.

The Chief Minister also said that the teachings of Baba Farid ji were a source of inspiration for the coming generations to serve humanity with utmost zeal, humility and dedication. Exhorting the people to follow the footsteps of Baba Farid ji, he said that it will help in cementing the ethos of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood in the society. Bhagwant Mann announced that every effort will be made to give a major push to development of Faridkot district. 

Earlier, in his address, Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Kultar Singh Sandhwan welcomed the Chief Minister to the district. He also lauded the Chief Minister for taking several path breaking initiatives to ensure comprehensive development of the state.

In her address Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur also congratulated the people on this auspicious occasion. She also said that the state government led by the Chief Minister is working tirelessly for the well being of people. 

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also felicitated several eminent personalities from Faridkot district.

Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur, Lok Sabha MP Mohammed Saddique, MLAs Gurditt Singh, Amolak Singh, Ranbir Singh Bhullar and Kaka Brar, former MP Prof. Sadhu Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venuprasad and others.

IEP Ludhiana, September 23

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today said that the state is fully ready to adopt crop diversification but the Government of India must provide assured mechanism to give remunerative prices for these crops.

“The centre must take this step for ensuring that farmers of the state shift from water guzzling crops to less water consuming crops”, said the Chief Minister while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Kisan Mela here at Punjab Agriculture University and Pashu Palan Mela at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.

The Chief Minister said that instead of paddy, the farmer of the state is ready to sow sunflower, maize and pulses but for that they must get adequate and assured price. He said that this will help in checking the depleting water table in the state on one hand and making agriculture a profitable venture on the other. Bhagwant Mann said that this is the need of hour to avert water crisis in the state.

          The Chief Minister said that the farmers of the state are really worried about the depleting water table and pollution of environment due to paddy straw burning.  However, he said that they are not able to come out of rut of wheat/ paddy cycle as they don’t want to loose assured price mechanism associated with it. Bhagwant Mann said that Punjab is blessed with fertile land where anything can germinate but efforts must be made to save this fertile land and it’s water.

However, the Chief Minister said that the crisis of water can never be ignored as we are pumping out water at the same depth in which Gulf countries are taking oil, which is alarming for us. He said that rice is not our staple food but for producing one kilogram of rice we are using 4000 litres of water due to which we have to adopt alternative crops. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is already making sincere efforts in this regard.

          Recalling the immense contribution of Punjab in making country self reliant in food grain production, the Chief Minister said that the hard working and resilient farmers of the state had provided food security to country in testing times. However, he said that for this they had to over exploit their only available natural resources in terms of fertile land and water. Bhagwant Mann bemoaned that now when few more states are producing are paddy so attempts are being made to deprive farmers of Punjab from MSP, which is completely unfair.

          The Chief Minister said that Union government imports pulses worth Rs 120 billion dollar annually from Other countries whereas it is not ready to provide Minimum Support price to farmers of the state who are ready to cultivate it. He said that in coming days an important decision will be taken to get rid of the menace of paddy straw burning. Bhagwant Mann said that it was duty of Union government to find solution for it as farmers produce rice for the country.

The Chief Minister said that paddy goes in national food kitty but centre asks states to tighten noose around farmers to prevent paddy straw burning.  He asked the experts of PAU to reach out to the farmers to acquaint them with new technology in agriculture sector.  Bhagwant Mann said that farmers work hard in fields and have no time for upgrading their expertise adding that experts must reach out to the farmers to make agriculture a profitable venture.

The Chief Minister also asked PAU to intensify research and bring a new revolution in agriculture through technical interventions. He further said that to promote Dairy the Punjab government is promoting Verka, which is renowned globally, to supplement income of farmers. Bhagwant Mann also said that thrust is also being laid on proper marketing of Pathankot’s Litchi and Kinnow of Abohar.

The Chief Minister also called on the farmers to reduce the expenditure on marriages as it poses huge economic burden on the families whereas marriages must be solemnised in simple way.  He reiterated the firm commitment of his government to make Punjab a drug free state. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is taking strict action in this regard.

          On the occasion Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal recalled stellar role of PAU in agriculture sector. He also appealed the  farmers to refrain from burning paddy straw.

          The Chief Minister also felicitated the progressive farmers on the occasion. The Vice Chancellor of PAU Dr Satbir Singh Gosal and Vice Chancellor of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Dr Inderjeet Singh honoured the Chief Minister.

          Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Animal Husbandary Minister Laljeet Singh Bhullar, Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venuprasad, Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Sarvjeet Singh and others.