Terming that danger was looming large on the state in general and Sikhs in particular, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today cautioned the Punjabis to beware of anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh forces that were trying to grab power in the state.Addressing a mammoth gathering after performing ground breaking ceremony for Bhai Jaita ji memorial here today, the Chief Minister said that the state was facing threat from those people who have been always inimical to its interests and people. He said that people who were responsible for attack on Golden Temple and killing of innocents Sikhs in 1984 were now vying for political power in state. Mr. Badal said that likewise another force that has taken stand contrary to interests of state on Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal was also eyeing political power in the state.Urging the people to identify these forces and give a befitting reply to them, the Chief Minister said that nothing good could be expected from these forces who were anti-Punjab in general and anti-Sikhs in particular.
Mr. Badal said that these forces which branded the Sikhs as terrorists or separatists at a point of time were branding the Punjabis as drug addicts. He said that how could the brave and patriotic Punjabis who had served the country with full zeal and honesty be defamed as drug addicts. Mr. Badal said that these people were trying to bring bad name to state despite of fact that not even a single ounce of drug was produced in state.Making a scathing attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership for equating few papers of its manifestos with holy religious scriptures, the Chief Minister said that these leaders have insulted the psyche of entire mankind. He said that it was an unpardonable offence and the AAP leadership could not be absolved of this heinous crime against humanity. Mr. Badal said that the Delhi Chief Minister had visited the Golden Temple to plead guilty but it was of no use as this offence was unbearable and intolerable. “These acts of AAP leadership reflect their polluted mindset that is totally against the state and its people” he added. Soliciting fulsome support and cooperation from people of state to save the waters of state, the Chief Minister said that the Punjabis should be ready to wage a struggle to save the waters of the state.
He said that the SAD-BJP alliance government was committed to thwart any sort of injustice with the state be it social, economic or political.Reiterating the firm commitment of state government to preserve the rich cultural heritage of state, the Chief Minister said that the state government has spend more than Rs 1000 crore for construction of memorials in the state. He said that in the current year around prestigious memorials including Jang-e-Azadi near Jalandhar, War Heroes Memorial in Amritsar, Bhagwan Valmiki Memorial cum Temple complex, Sri Guru Ravidass memorial, Baba Moti Ram Mehra memorial at Fatehgarh Sahib and others would be dedicated to nation in the current year only. Mr. Badal categorically said that the service to preserve the rich cultural heritage has been bestowed by almighty god and they have nothing to do with it.
Paying homage to Bhai Jaita ji for his unprecedented sacrifice, the Chief Minister said that this memorial would come up at a cost of Rs 25 crore to pay befitting tribute to the legendary Sikh martyr , who had rendered marvelous service to the panth by bringing back the seesh of Guru Teg Bahadur ji from Chandni chowk (Delhi) to Sri Anandpur Sahib. He said that Bhai Jaita ji confronted unimaginable hardships during his journey from Delhi to Sri Anandpur sahib but he faced them bravely. Mr. Badal said that this memorial would ever remind our younger generations about exemplary courage exhibited by this iconic Sikh warrior which hardly find any parallel in the entire Sikh history.
Urging the people to rise above the parochial considerations of caste and communalism, the Chief Minister said that people should follow the path shown by the great Sikh Gurus, who have taught them the message of ‘socialism and secularism’. He said that these ethoses which were popular across the globe had cemented the bonds of society.The Chief Minister said that the state government has taken several pro-poor initiatives to ensure the well being of weaker and oppressed sections of society. He said that the meritorious schools in state have opened new avenues for weaker sections adding that this year 31 students from these schools have joined premier institutions in the country.
Mr. Badal said that in the current fiscal the state government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 15 crore to enable the students from weaker sections to pursue high education.Listing the major pro-people initiatives taken by the state government, the Chief Minister said that due to concerted efforts of alliance government, Punjab was the today only power surplus state in the country. He further said that Punjab was the only state in the country to provide free power worth Rs 5000 crore annually to its farmers. Mr. Badal said that the state government has started first of its kind scheme to provide interest free crop loans worth Rs 50,000 to the farmers. He further said that in another historic decision it has been decided that all the farmers would be provided a health insurance cover of Rs.50,000 and an insurance of Rs.5 lac in case of accidental death or incapacitation of head of family.Earlier in their address Speaker of Punjab assembly Dr. Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Cabinet Ministers Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal, Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal and Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike and Lok Sabha MP Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra lauded the Chief Minister for taking historic steps to preserve cultural and religious legacy of state.
On the occasion Education Minister Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema conducted the proceedings of stage.Later on talking to the media persons, the Chief Minister said that the guilty consciousness of Delhi Chief Minister Mr. Arvind Kejriwal about his misdeed forced him to visit and perform sewa at the sacred Golden temple. He said that no penance on part of Mr. Kejriwal could ever wash the sins of Aam Aadmi Party convenor. Mr. Badal said by comparing few papers of his party’s manifesto by sacred religious texts, Mr Kejriwal has committed an unpardonable offence. He said that this sinister move of AAP leadership has tormented the psyche of the entire mankind. “This move of AAP leadership has proved that they have no respect for any religion”, he added.
The Chief Minister said that Mr Kejriwal might do anything but any repentance could not absolve him and his party from this heinous crime against the entire mankind. Mr Badal said that whether the Delhi Chief Minister agrees or not but he understands well that they have committed a grave crime due to which he was now trying to cover it up with such deeds. The people will never forgive Kejriwal and company for insulting every religion by this act, he added. Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the state government has done a humble effort to preserve the rich cultural heritage of state. He said that on one this move of state government would promote religious tourism in the state and other hand it would also help making the youngsters aware about the rich cultural heritage of state.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Jathedar Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Mall Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Bibi Mohinder Kaur Josh, Chaudhary Nand Lal, Mr. Manjit Singh Mianwind and Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas, MLAs Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Mr. Harpreet Singh and Mr. Joginder Singh Jindu, former Minister Mr. Gobind Singh Kanjhla, former MLA Mrs. Satwant Kaur Sandhu, former President SGPC Jathedar Kirpal Singh Badungar and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Karnesh Sharma.