Former Education Minister and MLA Padma Shri Pargat Singh today paid homage to Sardar Harkishan Singh Surjeet on his death anniversary at a memorial event held in village Wadala. On this occasion, he called upon all opposition parties to unite and fight a common battle to protect Punjab’s interests. Addressing the gathering, Pargat Singh said that Harkishan Singh Surjeet dedicated his life to the progress of the nation, and leaders of his stature are rare.
“He would study books late into the night to gain knowledge, but today’s leaders are increasingly losing touch with learning,” he remarked. Pargat Singh expressed concern that the prevailing mindset being imposed on the country is posing a serious threat to its future.
“The present struggle is ideological—where the big fish are devouring the small ones. The RSS and BJP together are weakening the nation, while decisions detrimental to state governments are being taken unilaterally,” he said.
He cautioned that during the upcoming Parliament session, preparations are underway to introduce five bills—including the Electricity Bill and the Education Bill—that go against Punjab’s interests. “The idea of involving private companies in the power sector is extremely dangerous, and forming a commission in the education sector will also be a regressive step,” he added.
Pargat Singh strongly criticized the Aam Aadmi Party and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for remaining silent on key issues concerning Punjab. “They have never opposed the National Education Policy in Parliament, nor raised their voice on the BBMB issue. Even on the Chandigarh issue, their stand remains ambiguous,” he noted, emphasizing that the AAP has effectively become the BJP’s ‘B-Team.’
He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann now has two mentors—former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah—both of whom he seeks to please. “Mann does not want to upset either of them, and ultimately, Punjab is paying the price for his silence,” he asserted.
Concluding his remarks, Pargat Singh called for a united front. “The time has come for everyone to stand together. Only through collective effort can we teach a lesson to both the BJP-led central government and the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab.
We must rise for the rights of Punjab and Punjabis—only then can we save our state.”MLA from Shahkot, Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, was also present on the occasion. He too paid tribute to Harkishan Singh Surjeet and shared his views on the current state of affairs in Punjab.