CM Pays Obeisance at Gurdawar Sri Bhabhor Sahib

CM office Sent on Wednesday 11th December 2024 at 2:19 PM Email Gurdawara Sri Bhabhor Sahib

Sought strength to Serve the People with Humility & Dedication

Prays for the Progress & Development of the state 

Nangal: (Rupnagar): 11th December 2024:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Bhabhor Sahib to offer prayers and seek blessings of almighty to give enormous strength to serve the people of state with all humility and dedication. 

The Chief Minister said that he was fortunate to have got an opportunity to serve the state and this visit was aimed at expressing his gratitude to almighty for bestowing this service. Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated his firm commitment to ensure overall development, peace and communal harmony besides cherishing the aspirations of all sections of the society. He also prayed for the progress and development of the state and prosperity of its people.

The Chief Minister sought blessings of almighty to give enormous strength to him for serving the people of state with full dedication. He offered prayers at Gurdwara sahib and reiterated the firm commitment of his government to serve the people of the state regardless of caste, colour, creed and religion to create a harmonious society. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as taught by the great Gurus the ethos of love, brotherhood and harmony in the society will be maintained at every cost and will ever remain their top priority of the state government.

The Chief Minister thanked the Almighty for bestowing upon him the responsibility to serve the people of Punjab with sincerity, dedication and commitment to fulfill their aspirations. He said that it is always a unique experience for him to visit such holy shrines, which are fountainheads of inspiration and positivity for millions of people from around the world. 

Bhagwant Singh Mann said by the God’s grace his government is leaving no stone unturned to come up to the expectations of people and top priority is being accorded by the government to implement pro-people and development oriented policies.

CM Mann recalled the stellar role of Punjab

Chief Minister's Office, Punjab     26th January 2024 at 5:11 PM

 Punjab played a big role in attaining the freedom of the country 

Ludhiana: 26th January 2024: (Karthika Kalyani Singh//Punjab Screen Desk)::

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday recalled the stellar role played by the Punjabis in attaining the freedom of the country and then carving out the modern day Indian Republic by preserving its unity, integrity and sovereignty through countless sacrifices. 

Addressing the gathering after unfurling the national tri-color in a function to mark 75th Republic Day, the Chief Minister said that this day assumes a lot of significance for us because Punjabis had brought it after enormous sacrifices. 

He said that during the pre-independence period many January 26 had passed but no one was allowed to unfurl the national flag. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now only we have the right to celebrate this day but it is unfortunate that the tableau of state was deliberately kept out of the Republic Day parade. 

The Chief Minister said that it is surprising how national festivals can be celebrated without Punjab adding that those who had deliberately kept Punjab’s tableau out of the parade must tell what is wrong in them. He said that the rich culture and heritage of the state has been duly showcased in the tableaus made by the state government because we can’t compromise with the pride of the state. 

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the mockery of the supreme sacrifices made by the Punjabis, by the Union government, is intolerable and unwarranted due to which the state has vehemently raised this issue. The Chief Minister said that the Union government has insulted the great martyrs including Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Rajguru, Shaheed Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Shaheed Udham Singh, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, Mai Bhago, Ghadri Baabe and others by rejecting the tableau of the state. 

He said that the union government has belittled their contribution and sacrifice of these heroes by not including their tableaus in the Republic Day parade. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this cannot be tolerated as it is the grave insult of these great patriots and national leaders adding that the state government has now duly showcased this immense contribution in tableaus across the state. 

The Chief Minister said that the state government has decided to name the upcoming International Airport at Indian Air force Station Halwara, Ludhiana as Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha International Airport. He said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government, the Mohali International Airport has already been named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh adding that naming of Halwara airport after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha will be a humble tribute to the martyr. 

He further said that naming the airports, universities and other institutions in the name of these iconic martyrs is important to perpetuate their glorious legacy. Striking an emotional note with the people, the Chief Minister urged them to end gender discrimination amongst boys and girls. 

He said that this is the need of hour to give wings to the girls for excelling in each and every field thereby enabling them to script new success stories. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the girls of the state are very brave and they can achieve any goal if they are given a chance. 

The Chief Minister further said that Punjab produces 182 lakh Metric Ton of paddy by over exploiting its only available natural resources in terms of water and fertile soil. He said that then only the country has been made self-reliant in terms of food production due to which it has emerged as a strong nation across the globe. 

However, Bhagwant Singh Mann bemoaned that conspiracies are being hatched to deprive the farmers of the state from the Minimum Support Price (MSP), which is discriminatory and pathetic. However, the Chief Minister said that Punjab was a frontrunner and Punjab will always continue to be that as Punjabis have been blessed with indomitable spirit of hard work and resilience. 

He said that the state government is performing its duty meticulously and zealously to ensure that Punjab leads the country in every sphere. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is not worried for the next elections but he is working for the welfare of the next generation, due to which several path breaking initiatives have been taken. 

The Chief Minister said that the state government is making concerted efforts for the welfare of the youth of the state. He said that the focus of his government is to ensure that youth become job givers instead of job seekers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is the need of hour to carve out a progressive and prosperous Punjab. 

The Chief Minister said that during previous regimes the youth were deprived of jobs and education so that they make a beeline behind the political leaders. He said that this culture is being abandoned so that youth become an integral part of the progress and prosperity of the state. 

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the day is not far when due to strenuous efforts of the state government, the pristine glory of Punjab is restored. The Chief Minister said that due to all out efforts of the state government for the first time in the last 75 years canal water has reached at the tail end of the last field in the state. He said that the state government is duty bound for this noble cause so that farmers of the state are immensely benefitted from it. 

Bhagwant Singh Mann said already due to strenuous efforts of the state government water has reached the far flung areas of Punjab. The Chief Minister said that to impart quality health services to people, the state government has set up Aam Aadmi Clinics in Punjab. 

He said that around 97 lakh people have so far availed the facilities of free healthcare in these clinics. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is a new revolution in the healthcare sector adding that efforts are afoot to give a facelift to this sector. 

The Chief Minister further said that massive efforts are being made to impart quality education to the students. He said that the state government has established the first of its kind School of Eminence in the state and during the first year 8358 students have been enrolled in it. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that an amount of Rs 200 crores has been earmarked for developing school infrastructure and sports facilities, besides providing free uniforms to students. The Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to make Punjab a frontrunner state in the industrial sector. He said that due to concerted efforts of the state government investments worth Rs 65,000 crore has been firmed up in the state which will provide 2.98 lakh jobs to youth. Bhagwant Singh said that this will give further push to the economic development of the state by putting it on the path of high growth trajectory. 

The Chief Minister said that to check the fatality rate due to road accidents in the state on one hand and to streamline the movement of traffic on the roads of the state on the other, the state government will launch Sadak Surakhya Force on January 27 from Jalandhar. 

He said that the first of its kind specialized force will act as a pivotal to save several precious lives that are lost in road accidents daily in Punjab and this force will be entrusted with the task of checking rash driving, streamlining vehicular movement on roads and others to check the road accidents.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that initially 129 vehicles equipped with ultra modern gadgets will be deployed after every 30 kilometres to man the roads and these vehicles will also have a complete medical kit for providing emergency treatment to any person in need. 

The Chief Minister further said that the state government has given jobs to around 40,000 jobs to youth merely in 19 months and on an average the state government has given jobs to 23,432 youth in one year, which is a record in itself. He said that all the jobs have been given completely on the basis of merit by adopting a complete transparent process. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of great pride that more than 50% of the jobs are bagged by the girls which are becoming active partners in the socio-economic progress of the state. 

The Chief Minister said that Punjab has created history by purchasing Goindwal power plant owned by a private company GVK Power adding that it is named after the third Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Amar Dass ji. He said that for the first time this reverse trend has started that the government has purchased any private power plant whereas in the past the state governments used to sell their assets to the favorite individuals at ‘throw away’ prices. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that 90% consumers in the state are getting zero power bill due to pro-people decisions of the state government. 

The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride that pran pratishta of Sri Ram temple had taken place at Ayodhya adding that everyone should go at that place to pay obeisance. He said that Punjab is epitome of secularism and communal harmony across the country as since ages people from all sections are residing here peacefully. 

Bhagwant Singh Mann though Ramzan is considered as a festival of muslim brethren but it is made up of two words Ram and zan which means it has the name of Ram too. Similarly, the Chief Minister said that Diwali- a festival of Hindu community too has the word ‘Ali’ in it which symbolizes communal harmony. Taking a jibe over parties towing communal agenda, he said that Aam Aadmi Party does not believe in divisive politics rather it works on principle of the welfare of all through ‘Politics of work’. 

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is the foundation of a society and country based on principles of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood. The Chief Minister said that to facilitate the people for undertaking a visit to the pilgrimage site of their choice, the state government has started Mukh Mantri Teerth Yatra Scheme. He said that this ambitious scheme is benefitting every strata of society in a big way as they can travel to the pilgrimage sites free of cost. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is an unprecedented scheme which has been embarked for the first time in the country by any state adding that though initially the Railways was trying to create hiccups in it but now the matter has been streamlined. 

The Chief Minister called upon the people to come forward for carving out a Punjab of the dreams of our great Gurus, Saints, Seers, Martyrs and Heroes. He said that Punjab had ever remained an oasis of peace and communal harmony in the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann called upon the brave and patriotic people of Punjab to rededicate themselves to the goals of a prosperous Punjab in which maladies like poverty, illiteracy and unemployment have no place. Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected the parade led by parade commander Akarshi Jain, IPS. 

He also took a salute from an impressive march past by contingents of Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards, Punjab Armed Police, NCC Girls and Boys, Bharat Scouts and Guides besides the Punjab Police Brass band. 

On the occasion, the students of various local schools presented a colorful variety program including Bhangra, Gidha, Group Dance, PT show and group singing. The Chief Minister also felicitated Freedom fighters and their kin in recognition of their valuable contribution in the freedom struggle of the country.

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Financial help of Rs 30,000 given to Nirmala Kaur (70)

16th June 2020 at 7:43 PM

 Help given On the directions of CM Capt Amarinder Singh 

Ludhiana: 16th June 2020: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

On the directions of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the District Administration, through the District Red Cross Society, today provided financial help of Rs 30,000 to Nirmala Kaur (70), a resident of New Shimlapuri area of Ludhiana. The Chief Minister had directed the District Administration Ludhiana to help the elderly woman staying in a rented house in New Shimlapuri area of the city. The Chief Minister came to know about this woman during his #AskCaptain Facebook Live session yesterday, when he was answering to questions of citizens. 

The cheque of Rs 30,000 was handed over to Nirmala Kaur by District Red Cross Society Ludhiana secretary Balbir Chand Ayry and Lokesh Aggarwal.

It is pertinent to mention that the Chief Minister had come to know about the problems being faced by one Nirmala Kaur (70), wife of Darshan Singh, a resident of New Shimlapuri area of the Ludhiana city. A person named Kulwant Singh had brought this matter to the notice of the Chief Minister and had stated that Nirmala Kaur stays in a rented house along with her 11-year-old grandson and a granddaughter. She takes care of her family by running a small stall “khokha”, but due to lockdown, she was suffering financially and could not pay her house rent of 4 months and her landlord had asked her to vacate her house due to non payment of rent.

On getting to know about Nirmala Kaur’s situation, Chief Minister Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh immediately directed the Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana to help the elderly woman, who, after the death of his son, is living in a rented house along with her grandchildren. He directed the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that they should clear her pending rent as well as pay rent for one year, besides all costs for her treatment of Tuberculosis (TB) should be borne by the district administration. 

Deputy Commissioner Mr Varinder Sharma informed that under the Mission Fateh of the Punjab government and following the orders of Chief Minister, the District Administration have provided financial help to the woman, have promised free medical treatment and all possible help in the future as well.

SAD-BJP would score one sided victory in elections-CM Badal

2016-08-17 17:56 GMT+05:30

Chief Minister holds Sangat Darshan in Khanna constituency

Congress had backstabbed Sant Longowal 

People would teach beffitting lesson to "Anti-Punjab" Congress and "AAP

Harion (Ludhiana): 17 August 2016:

While claiming one sided victory for Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janta Party coalition in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections, Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said that people would teach befitting lesson to both Congress and Aam Aadmi Party. He said that the people have already seen the anti-Punjab approach of the Congress party and now the Aam Aadmi Party's stand against Punjab over the river waters issue has unmasked their real face.

While speaking to media persons on the second day of his Sangat Darshan programme in Khanna constituency, the Chief Minister, while replying to a question as to which political party would pose real threat to the SAD-BJP in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections, said that their coalition would have a one sided clean sweep as people have already seen the Anti-Punjab face of both Congress and Aam Aadmi Party and that is why people have rejected them completely.

On a question related to distribution of tickets to youth for upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections, Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal said that their party has promoted many youngsters and the candidates would be chosen amongst those who could score a victory.

While replying to another question related to the Congress party claim that they would waive off debt of farmers after coming to power, Mr Badal said that the Congress party did not do anything for the welfare of farmers during their more than 50 years of rule and so the Congress leaders should not make such false claims. While terming the Congress claims as pure lies, Mr Badal said that Capt Amarinder had stopped free electricity to farmers that was given at the time of SAD-BJP government, immediately after coming back to power. While taking of steps taken by the state government for the benefit of farmers, Mr Parkash Singh Badal said that the government is currently giving a subsidy worth Rs 5000 crore for tube wells of farmers. He said that now the government is providing interest free loan up to Rs 50,000, besides free health treatment of up to Rs 50,000 to farmers. He said that there is also a provision of an insurance of Rs 5 lakh in case the head of family dies in an accident or incapacitation.

While addressing the people of different villages, Mr Parkash Singh Badal appealed them to take any political decision carefully. He appealed that they should choose only those parties which have stood by them during their testing times as one wrong decision can prove fatal for them as well as for the state.

The Chief Minister said that the Congress party has damaged the state politically, religiously as well as economically. He said that first the party ordered army attack on Shri Harimandir Sahib, which directly hit the Sikhs and later, ordered killing of innocent Sikhs in Delhi. He said that Congress even backstabbed our great leader Sant Harchand Singh Longowal. He said that it was the Congress which made the Rajiv-Longowal pact, and later, did not stand by it. He said that the Congress is still dilly-dallying the decision of transferring Chandigarh as well as Punjabi speaking areas to Punjab.

In his attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, Mr Parkash Singh Badal said that they are constantly trying to divide the society, but people would not fall prey to the evil motives. He said that the Sangat Darshan programmes are organised so that we can save both time and energy and increase people participation in development works. He said that Punjab is the only state in the country where Sangat Darshan Programmes are organised and they are organised only when people choose him to serve the state. He said that the Sangat Darshan programmes are organised so that people's grievances are redressed on the spot and the accountability of officers can be fixed.

The Chief Minister's Sangat Darshan programmes were today organised in villages Alipur, Gohn, Harion Kalan, Khatra and Majri, where he listened to grievances of more than two dozen panchayats and distributed cheques for various development works. Prominent among those present on the occasion included Chief Minister's Special Principle Secretary Dr S Karuna Raju, senior Akali leader of the area Mr Ranjit Singh Talwandi, DIG Mr S K Kalia, Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Mr Ravi Bhagat, SSP Khanna Mr Satinder Singh, Senior Akali leader Mr Iqbal Singh Channi, Mr Inderpal Singh, besides several others.

Skill Development meeting

25-August-2015 15:27 IST
CM Badal Charing the meeting

New Delhi: 25 August 2015: (PIB)
Final meeting of the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Skill Development held on 25th August, 2015 at NITI Aayog 

The final meeting of the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Skill Development was held at NITI Aayog in New Delhi today. The meeting was presided by the Convenor of the Subgroup and the Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Parkash Singh Badal. The Chief Ministers of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya Tripura and Goa attended the meeting. The Minister for Employment, Technical Education & Training from Odisha was also present at the meeting. The rest of the member States namely Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were represented by their senior officer. Member of NITI Aayog Dr.V.K.Saraswat and other senior officials were also present at the meeting. The CEO of NITI AAYOG Smt. Sindhushree Khullar, presented the recommendations of the Draft Report before the Members for their views. 

The deliberations focused on empowering and strengthening the State Skill Development Missions to address the challenge of skill development at the State level in a decentralized manner so as to improve the outreach of skill development. The emphasis was also laid on increasing participation by women and other socio economic groups. It was suggested that appropriate credit and market linkages be provided for entrepreneurial development which can act as force multiplier for employment generation. The Sub-Group focused on need for overcoming the shortage of trainers by involving the industry and national level institutions such as IIT, IIM and universities. It was decided that after incorporating the additional views shared by the member States today the final Report would be submitted to the PM within a fortnight. 

The NITI Aayog Sub-Group on Skill Development was constituted as per the decision taken in the first meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog chaired by the Prime Minister on 8th February, 2015. The Sub-Group consists of Chief Ministers of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Tripura. (PIB)
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AKT

CM dedicates Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial to Nation

Announced skill development training centre at Bassian

Bassian (Ludhiana): May 24, 2015: (PRD//Punjab Screen Bureau):

Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said that a skill development training centre would be developed on land located adjoining the Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial at village Bassian so that the youth of area could be trained and made self dependent. The Chief Minister said this after inaugurating the memorial constructed in the memory of last Sikh Emperor, Maharaja Dalip Singh, at Bassian Kothi near Raikot, here today.

While addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that making today’s youth self employed is need of the hour and setting up of skill development training centres in different parts of the state is the first step into this direction. Mr Badal said that the setting up of Skill Development Training Centre at Bassian village would help the youth of Raikot and its adjoining areas. The Chief Minister said that he has also asked the representatives of Maharaja Dalip Singh Trust to give their suggestions also so that this project could be conceptualised at the earliest.

While speaking about the historical significance of Bassian Kothi, Chief Minister said that it was here that the last Sikh ruler, Maharaja Dalip Singh, son of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh, spent his last night (on December 31, 1849) as a sovereign king in Punjab, the state ruled by him. At that time Maharaja Dalip Singh (6 September 1838 – 22 October 1893), was less than 12 years in age. He said that Bassian Kothi was basically an advance supply depot of the British military division based at Ferozepur.

While recalling his first visit at Bassian Kothi on April 20, 2011, the Chief Minister said that when he first visited the place, Bassian Kothi was literally in shambles. On that day, he was holding Sangat Darshan programme at a marriage palace in village Bassian (near Raikot, Ludhiana).

The Chief Minister said that due to the rich historical significance of this place, the state government decided to construct a memorial here and an amount of Rs 5.29 crore was sanctioned for this purpose. He said that Delhi-based Indian National Trust and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was roped in for this purpose.

Mr Parkash Singh Badal said that the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was based on secularism and the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janta Party alliance government was following his footsteps to propagate the rich legacy of Maharaja’s golden era of rule with service. The Chief Minister said that for preserving our rich history, the SAD-BJP has been constructing several memorials in different parts of the state. He said that the memorials are constructed to perpetuate the glorious legacy of the state for our coming generations. The Punjab government has constructed Virasat-e-Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Wadda Ghallughara, Chhotan Ghallughara, besides several other such monuments. Another Jang-e-Azadi Memorial is also under construction at Kartarpur (district Jalandhar). The CM said that the Namdhari sect also has a deep connection with Bassian Kothi.

Retired Justice Mr Avtar Singh Gill was also honoured by the Chief Minister for writing four books on Maharaja Dalip Singh.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Dr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Tourism Minister Mr Sohan Singh Thandal, , former MLA Mr Ranjit Singh Talwandi, Akali leader Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa and Maharaja Dalip Singh Trust chairman Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill also addressed the gathering.

Prominent among those who were present on the occasion included Irrigation Minister Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas, MLA’s Mr Manpreet Singh Ayali and Mr SR Kler, Advisor to CM Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mayor Mr Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, Punjab S S Board chairman Jathedar Santa Singh Umedpuri, Verka Milk Plant chairman Mr Ajmer Singh Bhagpur, Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs Mrs Anjali Bhawra, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr KJS Cheema and Dr S K Raju, SGPC member Mr Jagjit Singh Talwandi, Deputy Commissioner Mr Rajat Agarwal, Mr Amandeep Singh Gill, Mr Parminder Singh Jatpuri, besides several others.

Sins of Congress Govt. at center could not be washed overnight-CM

Sun, May 17, 2015 at 3:12 PM

Lauds NDA Govt for exemplary work in short span of one year

Hails Modi for Launching pro-poor schemes 

Punjab immensely benefited from NDA rule

Ludhiana, May 17 2015- (PRD//Punjab Screen Bureau)

Terming that the ‘sins’ of successive Congress governments at center in more than six decades could not be washed overnight, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that despite of all odds the NDA government has done exemplary work in its short span of one year for ensuring the progress of country and prosperity of its people.

Interacting with the media persons after laying the foundation stone of several development projects here today, the Chief Minister, while congratulating the Prime Minister for successful completion of one year in office, lauded him for launching several pro-poor schemes within a short span of about one year.  He said that under Mr. Modi’s dynamic and visionary leadership the NDA government has launched major pro-poor schemes like Jan Dhan Yojna, Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojna, Prime Minister’s Bima Suraksha, Atal Pension and Pradhan Mantri Jeewan Jyoti Bima Yojna, which were aimed at ensuring the welfare of common man. He said that none of other government at the centre has ever initiated such pro-people schemes in a short span of one year.

The Chief Minister further said that in a short span of NDA’s rule, Punjab has been immensely benefitted from it. He said that the Union government has given several key projects to the state, which would be instrumental in putting the state further on high growth trajectory. He hailed the NDA government for allocating prestigious projects like All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Post Graduate Horticulture Research and Educational Institute.

Replying to another query, the Chief Minister reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to maintain law and order in the state at every cost. He said that sporadic incidents of law and order problem were persistent in every state and even the advanced countries like USA were also not aloof from it. However, Mr. Badal said that the state government was making every effort to ensure that law and order was not disturbed in the state.

The Chief Minister further said that the state government was committed for ensuring speedy payments of the VAT refund to the traders and industrialists. He said that the matter was under due consideration of the state government and the payments of the traders/ entrepreneurs would be made very soon.

On another query, the Chief Minister said that farmers of the state had been immensely benefitted from NDA government as accepting the demand of the state government the Government of India (GoI) has now revised the relief norms to the distressed farmers for the crop damage due to natural calamities across the country adding that now the farmers would be eligible for input subsidy if 33% of their crop has been damaged instead of earlier norms of 50% or more. Likewise, he said that in a big relief to the farmers affected by the unseasonal rains and hailstorm in the region the NDA government has decided to bear the value cut on their harvest. However, Mr. Badal said that it was not enough as the compensation of the crop loss must be rationalized and brought at par with the amount of loss. “Above all introduction of crop insurance scheme is the need of the hour to save farmers from the current agrarian crisis” he added.

Earlier addressing a massive gathering here at a public rally, the Chief Minister termed the SAD-BJP alliance government as the most secular government in the country. He said that the state government has taken path breaking initiatives for the welfare of each and every strata of society adding that it was a fact that the SAD-BJP alliance government was following the footsteps of the great Sikh Gurus who have taught them the message of communal harmony, love, brotherhood, peace and above all of egalitarian society with pure secular character. Mr. Badal said that was why that the state government have always taken adequate steps to ensure the all-round development of every section of the society.

The Chief Minister further said that strenuous efforts have been made by the state government to preserve the rich cultural legacy of the state by building world class monuments at a cost of nearly Rs 1000 crore to immortalize the memory of the great and unparalleled role played by our great heroes and martyrs in shaping the course of human history. He said these include the state-of-the-art Virasat-e-Khalsa memorial at Sri Anandpur Sahib, memorials of Vadda and Chhota Ghallughara , Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War memorial at Chappar Chiri, Bhagwan Valmiki ( Bhagwan Valmik Tirath Sthal Amritsar ) and  Guru Ravidass (at Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur). Mr. Badal said that apart from these, memorials of Swami Vivekananda at Kapurthala, Baba Jiwan Singh (Bhai Jaita Ji) at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Baba Moti Ram Mehra at Fatehgarh Sahib and Bhai Mati Dass, Bhai Sati Dass and Bhai Dayala Ji at Sri Anandpur Sahib were also at various stages of planning and execution.

The Chief Minister further said that in a major step aimed at providing world class civic amenities to residents of the cities across the state, the Punjab government has embarked a major scheme providing the facility of water supply, sewerage, Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs), Streetlights, Roads and parks in all the  towns of the state. He said that the focus of the state government was to refurbish the cities with the state-of-the art facilities so that the residents could be benefitted from it on one hand and giving impetus to the overall development of the state on the other.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, his Advisor Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Nand Lal Gujjar, MLAs Mr. Ranjit Singh Dhillon and Mr. Manpreet Singh Aiyali, former Minister Jathedar Hira Singh Gabria, Chairman Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board Jathedar Santa Singh Umedpuri, District BJP President Mr. Praveen Bansal, his Special Principal Secretary Dr. S Karunaraju and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Rajat Aggarwal.