Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday exhorted youth from England, who have come on a visit under the ‘Connect with Your Roots’ (CYR) programme, to dispel any misgivings about the state’s law and order situation in the minds of the Punjabi diaspora back home.He was interacting with the 14 youth who are here on a 10-day visit to different parts of the state, over lunch.The Chief Minister urged the youngsters to convey to the diaspora that the people in Punjab were living in a peaceful atmosphere, contrary to what was being wrongly projected by some mischievous elements.They can now judge the difference between the perception created by some anti-Punjab elements settled abroad, including Sikh for Justice (SFJ) leaders, who were bent on tarnishing the image of Punjab and Punjabis to promote secessionism amongst the peace loving Punjabis in a bid to destroy the state’s hard earned peace and communal harmony, he added.The Chief Minister told the youth that there was neither any sort of tension nor any law and order problem, and extended an open invitation to all the Punjabis to visit the state and ascertain for themselves the ground realities prevailing here.
Captain Amarinder Singh cited an instance of two of his acquaintances who had come from abroad recently to meet him and desired to visit their native village near Fatehgarh Churian in district Gurdaspur. On their request, “I deputed my Cabinet colleague Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa to accompany them to their ancestral village. On their return, they narrated that they were overwhelmed with the rousing welcome by the entire village, which displayed the unique spirit of Punjabis’ benevolence and sense of belongingness,” he added.Replying to a query regarding the state level Independence Day celebrations at Ludhiana, which he had presided over, the Chief Minister said that it was a momentous occasion for which people from different walks of life, especially students, had participated with full enthusiasm.On the occasion, the Chief Minister was accompanied by his Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary Tejveer Singh, Special Principal Secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh besides Principal Secretary NRIs Affairs S R Ladhar.