Placing prime focus on the National security aspect especially in the 6 border districts of the State, the Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Saturday emphasized complete coordination between the Central and the State security agencies so as to ensure that the unity and integrity of the country is maintained at all costs.Interacting with the mediapersons here, the Governor apprised that today he alongwith the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took stock of the security scenario in the 6 border districts in a meeting with the officers from the Central and State Government agencies accompanied by the Sarpanches and the Panches of the border villages. "The main agenda of the meeting was to evolve a robust mechanism to strengthen the security of these districts especially when the neighbouring country is finding ways to foment trouble in Punjab by drugs and weapons smuggling through drones", said the Governor adding that there should be no scope for negligence in this regard.
Expressing concern that the drugs from across the border are falling into the hands of even school going children, the Governor solicited the peoples' cooperation and exhorted them to be alert and tip off the police and other security agencies whenever such an nefarious activity takes place.The Governor further pointed out that in order to channelize the energy of the youth specially those hailing from the border areas in a constructive manner, a scheme called AGNEEPATH would soon be unveiled in which the youth would be given adequate training besides employment in the army for 4-6 years. "I would lend wholehearted support to every effort made by the Chief Minister for taking up issues of Punjab's interest with the Government of India", reiterated the Governor who also said that he would visit the border districts every 3 months to take stock of the security situation.
Speaking on the occasion, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that Punjab is the land of martyrs having produced legendary revolutionaries such as Shaheed e Azam Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh and Lala Lajpat Rai who sacrificed their lives in the freedom movement. "Now, the brave youth of the State are carrying forward their legacy by serving in the army for defending the nation", said the Chief Minister adding the focus of the State Government is on bringing industry in the border areas apart from the schools, colleges and the skill development institutions so as to provide job avenues to the youth who have talent in abundance but no means to harness the same. "The State Government is also sparing no effort to bring Sainik Schools in Punjab with a view to produce future officers for the nation's Armed forces", added Bhagwant Mann.
Asserting that there must be no compromise on the issue of National security, the Chief Minister said that he would meet the Union Home Minister on April 12th for taking up the issue of providing state of the art technological apparatus to the Punjab Police for nipping the menace of cross border smuggling in the bud.Likewise, the Chief Minister also said that the issue of farmers having lands across the barbed wire fence would be resolved soon to the satisfaction of those holding such land holdings.Among others present on the occasion included the MLA (Fazilka) Narinderpal Singh Sana, MLA (Jalalabad) Jagdeep Kamboj, MLA (Balluana) Amandeep Singh Goldy Musafir, Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari, DGP V.K. Bhawra, Principal Secretary (Planning) Raj Kamal Chaudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor J.M. Balamurugan, Commissioner Ferozepur Division D.S. Mangat, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Sagar Setia, SDM Ravinder Singh Arora.