Seechewal (Punjab), May 28 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday inaugurated an astroturf at the Sant Avtar Singh memorial hockey stadium.
Highlighting the Aam Aadmi Party government’s aggressive push on sports infrastructure, irrigation, groundwater recharge and public welfare, Mann said the government had delivered 21,000 cusecs of water to fields while sustained environmental efforts had helped recharge 21 lakh cubic metres of groundwater, leading to a rise of 2 to 4 metres in the water table in several areas.
Emphasising that Punjab is witnessing rapid transformation through “world-class government schools, hospitals, roads and sporting facilities,” Mann asserted that the colours of a vibrant “Rangla Punjab” have now started
emerging across the state.
Mann, who was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal, paid obeisance at Village Seechewal during the 38th death anniversary of Sant Baba Avtar Singh.
Addressing a gathering, Mann stated, “Punjab has very fertile land and anything can germinate on it except hatred and animosity. Punjab is the sacred land of great Gurus, saints and seers who have shown us the path of mutual love and tolerance. The social bonding among people is already very strong and people should come together to strengthen it further.” “It is high time that Punjabis unite to give a befitting reply to divisive forces that are enemies of the peace, amity and communal harmony of the state. Those trying to disturb communal harmony are enemies of Punjab because they want to push the state back into dark days. These forces want to gain power by creating communal strife, but they will not succeed,” he added.
Urging people to remain united, the CM added, “Some political parties are trying to divide people in the name of religion. Their politics revolves around creating divisions between communities and then frightening both sides for votes. People must remain cautious of such politics. These people spread hatred by dividing society on the basis of caste and religion, but the AAP does not believe in such politics.” The Punjab CM said, “Thirty-eight years ago, this place was covered with sand dunes where peanuts and small crops used to grow. Due to the massive efforts of Baba Seechewal ji, this place has now been transformed into a flourishing green environment where thousands of trees and hundreds of varieties of plants have been planted. These trees provide fruits and shade throughout Punjab and people come here to take saplings from the nursery for plantation elsewhere.” He further remarked, “Only a few dedicated souls are striving to protect the sacred balance of nature and Punjab is fortunate that Balbir Singh Seechewal is one of them.
“Whenever Baba ji speaks in Parliament, nobody interrupts him because everyone knows that he always speaks for society, for the environment and for future generations. Very few people are blessed with the opportunity to perform such noble service and Baba ji has always spread the message of humanity, honest living, sharing and righteousness.” PTI SUN NB NB
