PHAGWARA: In a significant step towards environmental conservation, Former Minister Joginder Singh Maan and Aam Aadmi Party’s Phagwara constituency in-charge Harnoor Singh (Harji) Maan on Tuesday announced the launch of a large-scale tree plantation drive dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the unparalleled martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. Under this campaign, as many as 35, 000 saplings will be planted across villages and urban wards of the Phagwara Assembly segment.
The initiative was formally inaugurated in the presence of prominent religious, social and political leaders including Baba Parmeshwar Singh (Bhogpur), Baba Gurcharan Singh (Pandwa), Jain Sabha President Mahinder Pal Jain, Muslim leader Kasif Rehman, Shiv Sena Punjab Vice-President Inderjit Karwal, AAP district president Sarbjit Singh Lubhana, Phagwara S.P. Gurmit Kaur Chahal, DSP Bharat Bhushan, SDM Jashanjit Singh, Naib Tehsildar Gurucharan Singh, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Harji Maan said the campaign draws inspiration from Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib’s supreme sacrifice for the protection of faith and humanity. “Just as the Ninth Guru gave his life to uphold righteousness, it is our duty today to safeguard humanity by protecting nature, ” he stated. Pointing to the devastating natural calamities triggered by erratic climate patterns, such as flash floods and cloudbursts in India’s hill states, Maan stressed that indiscriminate deforestation is a major cause of such disasters.
Appealing to residents of every village and ward, Maan urged citizens to actively participate in the plantation drive. He called upon people to join hands in making this campaign a success and to pay tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji by contributing to a greener, healthier environment for future generations.