DHADOGAL (Sangrur): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday said that the state government was following the footsteps of legendary martyrs to ensure the development of the state and well being of the people especially from the economically weaker and underprivileged sections of society.
Addressing the gathering during a function to mark the death anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Dhadogal here today, the Chief Minister said that as a fact of matter every inch of this sacred land has the footprint of great Gurus, saints, seers, martyrs and poets. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjabis have been blessed with an indomitable spirit of hard work and resilience due to which they carve out space for themselves. He said that the social bonding in the state is so strong that any seed could grow on the fertile land of Punjab but the seed of hatred will not germinate here at any cost.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab is a sacred land of great Gurus, saints and seers who have shown us the path of mutual love and tolerance. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjabis have always opposed tyranny, injustice and oppression by cementing the bond of love and harmony. He said that the state government is making concerted efforts to realize the dreams of martyrs to ensure that the fruits of freedom are percolated to every household.
The Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that even after more than 75 years of freedom the benefits of freedom have still not reached every household. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that those in power had misused the freedom to spread the tentacles of chitta (drugs), amass wealth by plundering the masses, encouraging corruption along with other menaces. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the dreams of martyrs have still not been realized as these people have never made any concerted effort for this.
The Chief Minister said that Punjabis have played a great role in national freedom and no NOC from those in power is required for their patriotism. He said that such type of disrespect to these great patriots and national leaders cannot be tolerated at any cost. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the earlier governments had never bothered about the people and had ruined the system due to which youth wanted to move abroad.
The Chief Minister said that ironically due to poor performance of the previous regimes the youth of our state wanted to go and work in the same country, the rulers of which were ousted by our martyrs and nationalists. Training his guns at his predecessors, he said that these leaders had built huge palaces by amassing whopping wealth by misusing their official positions. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the walls of these palatial palaces were high and the gates usually remained closed for the people and these leaders remained inaccessible to the people due to which they were ousted by the masses.
The Chief Minister bemoaned that the state had lagged behind in the pace of development due to the apathetic attitude of the traditional political parties. He said that the leaders of these parties ruined the younger generations of the state by misusing their power. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders had never worried about the welfare of the people but they were focused on the prosperity of their own families.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister to commemorate the historic occasion of the 350th Martyrdom Day of the ‘Hind Di Chadar’ (Protector of India), Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji, the Punjab Government will organize grand and historic events. He said that comprehensive development of places having the footsteps of the Guru Sahib will be ensured for which a detailed plan has been already chalked out. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed for perpetuating the glorious legacy of Guru Sahib for our coming generations.