Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accompanied by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Saturday laid the foundation stone of Guru Ravidass Bani Adhiyan Centre at Ballan and handed over the first instalment of Rs 25 crore for starting of work to Sant Niranjan Dass ji.
The Chief Minister and Arvind Kejriwal paid obeisance at Dera Sachkhand Ballan and sought blessings from Chief of Dera Sachkhand Ballan Sant Niranjan Dass ji. Bhagwant Mann envisioned that this Adhiyan Centre will go a long way to undertake extensive research and study of the Bani of Sri Guru Ravidass ji. He said that centre will also be instrumental in propagating the teachings of Sri Guru Ravidass ji, the doyen of Bhakti movement, in every nook and corner of the world.
The Chief Minister said that he is blessed to have got the opportunity to visit this sacred place which has footsteps of great religious leaders. He said that this land has always propagated the message of universal peace, brotherhood and communal harmony.
Bhagwant Mann said that in consonance with the path shown by Baba Sahib Dr BR Ambedkar the state government is according top priority to education sector along with health, employment and others.
The Chief Minister said that his government has already taken path breaking initiatives in these sectors. He said that state has already heralded a new era in education and health sectors. Bhagwant Mann said that this pro-poor initiative will go a long way in transforming the lives of common people.
The Chief Minister said that they don’t believe in lip service but deliver what is good for society adding that there is no dearth of funds for this prestigious project. He said that the money has already been transferred in account of the Deputy Commissioner to start work on this project.
Bhagwant Mann said that earlier only tall claims were made for welfare of poor but no one did the work in real sense. The Chief Minister said that the poor people have been ditched by those only who claimed to be their own leaders.
He reminded the people that earlier governments had ruined the future of poor students by usurping the money meant for post matric scholarship scheme. Bhagwant Mann said that on the contrary their government is making concerted efforts for mitigating the woes of common man.
The Chief Minister further said that the state government has fulfilled the guarantee of giving 300 units of free electricity per month from July 1. He said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that 87% of the households in the state have got zero power bills in the months of November-December, 2022.
Bhagwant Mann said that he hails from a common family and knows well what are the problems being faced by them. The Chief Minister said that the Guru Ravidass Bani Adhiyan Kendra Prabandhak committee to be headed by Sant Baba Niranjan Dass ji will manage overall affairs of this Centre.
He further said that apart from non official members, the committee will have Secretary Tourism, Secretary Welfare of SC/ BC, Secretary Finance and local Deputy Commissioner as members. Bhagwant Mann said that Dircetor Tourism and Cultural affairs will be the Member Secretary of the committee.
The Chief Minister said that committee will decide further course of action with respect to development of this Centre including the procurement of requisite land for this purpose. He expressed hope that this Centre will act as a lighthouse for further perpetuating the ideology of Guru Ravidass ji so that our future generations can seek inspiration from his Bani.
Bhagwant Mann said that this centre will act as a catalyst in facilitating the students and research scholars studying the life and philosophy of Guru ji, to undertake research on the various aspects of sacred Bani of Guru Ravidass ji.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government is duty bound to maintain peace, amity and communal harmony in Punjab at all costs. He said that today is the era of education and across the globe the people with knowledge and expertise are recognized due to which the state government is making strenuous efforts to promote education in Punjab.
Bhagwant Mann said that they want to see books, laptops, jobs, medals and progress in the hands of youth and not weapons. Meanwhile, Sant Niranjan Dass ji felicitated CM and Kejriwal with a holy robe.
On the occasion Cabinet Ministers Harbhajan Singh ETO, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Lal Chand Kataruchak, Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha and Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal were present.