The Finance Minister of Punjab Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal today stated division in the name of caste, religion and colour as the biggest threat for Nation. He said that there is strong need of following the message of unity and humanity given by Baba Sheikh Farid Ji to pull country out of this crisis.Addressing a massive gathering on the Aagman Purab of the great Sufi Saint Baba Sheikh Farid Ji, Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal gave a clarion call to the people of Punjab to shed the abhorrence and join hands for socio-economic development of the state. Quoting the life history and teachings of Baba Sheikh Farid ji, Finance Minister said that mutual peaceful coexistence and communal harmony would be the real tribute to Baba Ji.Disclosing his approach regarding development, the Finance Minister said that it was our bad luck that we equate development only with the development of infrastructures like road and streets whereas a state or nation achieves real development goals only if its youth has been getting rewarding jobs. “I need not to say that we will achieve our targeted development goals when youth of the state will get rewarding jobs. The kitchen of every household would witness this development”, added Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal.
Stating that there would be no dearth of funds for the development of the holy city of Baba Farid Ji, the Finance Minister assured.Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, MLA on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh that all the demands raised by him for the betterment of the city would be met on priority. He further added that he was attending the function on behalf of Captain Amarinder Singh as later had to visit Gurdaspur to accompany congress candidate in filling his nomination for Gurdaspur parliamentary by-poll.Interacting with the media persons Mr. Badal said that the Punjab government has reserved Rs. 50 crore for the heritage festivals and all expenses of the Baba Farid Mela would be beared by the Punjab Government. The Finance Minister announced to release the remaining grant of Rs 87 crore for the sewage & drinking project of the Faridkot city. He also announced to release about Rs 40 Crore for construction of 'Pakka Khalas'.On the demand of local MLA Mr. Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, the finance Minister announced to set a modern park for the beautification of the city and install street lights. Others prominent present on the occasion include Mr. Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon MLA, Mr. Rajiv Parasher Deputy Commissioner, Dr. nanak Singh SSP, Dr. Raj Bahadur Vice Chancellor and other senior officials of the district administration.