Punjab Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal today visited the critical points along the Ghaggar River to review flood-prevention arrangements. Speaking to mediapersons at Makror Sahib, he said that all flood protection measures were fully in place. He also strongly reacted to the ban imposed on renowned actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh's film Sutlej and the recent statements made by Union Minister for State Ravneet Singh Bittu.
The Cabinet Minister said that immediately after last year's floods, the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, initiated comprehensive and long-term flood-protection measures. Special monitoring is being carried out at Makror Sahib, considered the most vulnerable point along the Ghaggar River, where its width suddenly narrows from approximately 598 feet to 198 feet.
He informed that the embankments on both sides of the river have been raised by two feet along the 18-kilometre stretch from Makror Sahib to Karel. Thousands of sandbags have been kept ready on-site to address any possible seepage or breach.
In addition, all required stone pitching work has been completed along the 22-kilometre stretch between Makror Sahib and Khanauri. Recalling last year's unprecedented floods, Goyal said that despite the highest water level ever recorded in the river, the government's preparedness and public cooperation ensured that the water remained at the same level for nearly 12 days without any breach in the embankments.
He added that this year as well, officials of the department are stationed in the field round the clock, and there is no reason for the public to panic. Commenting on the ban imposed on Diljit Dosanjh's film Sutlej, the Cabinet Minister said that banning the film was unjustified.
He remarked that those advocating such a ban must be acting out of fear. Responding to Union Minister for State Ravneet Singh Bittu's remarks, in which he allegedly used various derogatory terms for Diljit Dosanjh and accused him of disturbing the atmosphere for personal gain, Goyal questioned, "If there was anything wrong with Diljit Dosanjh, why did Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself invite him for a meeting some time ago?"
He further said that although Ravneet Singh Bittu is a Minister, the people of Punjab have given him everything he has achieved politically. Instead of making baseless allegations against Punjab's artists, he should represent the interests and concerns of the people of Punjab before the Central Government.
Expressing strong objection to Ravneet Singh Bittu's social media posts featuring old photographs and his appeal for a particular community to unite, Goyal said that Punjab has already endured the immense tragedy of terrorism, during which thousands of innocent lives were lost. He urged political leaders not to make provocative statements for political gain or attempt to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the state.
"I have personally witnessed that difficult period," he said. "During the years of terrorism, foreign agencies attempted to create divisions between Hindus and Sikhs by orchestrating incidents of sacrilege at religious places.
However, the people of Punjab did not allow their mutual harmony to be broken. Whenever a Hindu family in a village considered migrating out of fear, Sikh brothers would stand at their doorsteps and persuade them not to leave. Hindus and Sikhs in Punjab were united then, they are united today, and they will always remain united."
Concluding his remarks, Goyal cited his own example, saying that although he belongs to the Hindu community, there are many villages in his constituency where not even a single Hindu family resides. Yet, the Sikh residents of those villages overwhelmingly supported him and elected him as their representative.
He appealed to all political leaders to refrain from giving Punjab's politics a communal colour.