Punjab News, NRI News

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today expressed shock at the demise of Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, former Vice President of India, who expired at Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur, today after a brief illness.

In a condolence message the Deputy Chief Minister described Mr. Shekhawt as a statesman politician who believed in the politics of consensus. Mr. Badal said that he would be fondly remembered by the people for the major development initiatives taken by him during his three stints as Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

The Deputy Chief Minister expressed heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed to God to give peace to the departed soul and strength to them to bear this irreparable loss.

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MP Bittu, congratulate for victory against the all powerful land grabbers in Punjab

Member Parliament and Punjab Youth Congress chief Ravneet Singh Bittu today thanked the Media for exposing those close to the powers that be and congratulated the poor people of Majri block comprising of five villages of Bhagindi, Gurdha, Kasauli, Jyanti Majri and Karaundewala, for their victory against the all powerful land grabbers.

Ravneet Bittu, appreciated Shri Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, for the rapid and appropriate action, who have also warned that none will be spared for this Land Grabbing, eventhough he may be a VIP or VVIP or anyone close to them.

Though the cases having been registered against the Land Mafia under the various sections of Forest Acts, Bittu said, action still needs to be taken against them for getting the Girdavari changed in Revenue records illegally, with the connivance of corrupt Revenue Officials. Assuring the poor farmers of these villages, Ravneet, further said, the officers involved in this scam would also not be spared and none can make the illegal possession of their lands.

In the end, Bittu said, that such illegal felling of the trees and breaking the hillocks will pose a grave danger to the environment, which essentially needs to be maintained for the very sustenance of human life and condemned all those making the illicit felling for their lack of affection for the human life and for putting money ahead of every thing. Such violations of the Forest Act which is finishing the green cover will not be tolerated at any cost.

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CM, DY. CM, NATIONAL PRESIDENT BJP PAYS GLORIOUS TRIBUTES TO BABA BANDA SINGH BAHADUR ON TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS OF SIRHIND FATEH DIWAS

BADAL DARES CONGRESS TO SHUN ITS NEFARIOUS DESIGNS TO VITIATE PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE IN PUNJAB

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today dared the Congress party to shun its nefarious designs to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

Addressing a massive religious congregation here at a state level function to commemorate the Tercentenary Celebrations of 'Sirhind-Fateh Diwas' with the culmination of 2500 KMs Fateh March from Nanded to Fategarh Sahib covered in about one-and-a-half month, Mr. Badal said that the Congress party through its agents was bent to create communal tension in the state as it had no political agenda of its own.

Making an oblique reference to a section of persons who raised anti-government and anti-panthic slogans, Mr. Badal categorically said; "Merely raising slogans would not serve any useful purpose rather it is far more important to do something constructive for the overall development and prosperity of the state and country".

The Chief Minister said that these anti social elements should at least refrain themselves from using such religious platform to promote their political vested interests at the behest of Congress. He said that such irresponsible persons have not only belittled the significance of the today's auspicious occasion but had also shown disrespect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji by shouting slogans which was nothing short of a sin which amounted to an unpardonable act. He asked these persons to exercise self-restrain especially during such religious functions to uphold its sanctity (Maryada).

The Chief Minister also announced remission of one year to the jail inmates who had been awarded imprisonment from 10 to 20 years. Likewise remission of 9 months who had imprisoned for 7 to 10 years, 6 months in case of 5 to 7 years, 3 months to the prisoners who had been sentenced for a jail term of 3 to 5 years and 1 month to the prisoners with less than 3 years on the auspicious occasion of Tercentenary of Sirhind Fateh Diwas.

Paying glowing tributes to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur who avenged the martyrdom of younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh ji and sacked the Mughal provincial capital, Sirhind, Mr. Badal said that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, a great warrior was still revered as one of the most sacred martyrs of the Khalsa Panth.

He called upon the people to follow the teachings of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, who was a true disciple of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji. The Chief Minister lauded the unprecedented achievement of great warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur for the establishment of Sikh kingdom which ultimately paved a way for the national independence movement.

He said that we should draw inspiration from Baba Banda Singh Bahadur to bring an end to the menace of drug addiction as the great Sikh General played a vanguard role for the eradication of intoxicants and abolition of Zamindari system during his regime.

The Chief Minister further said that we were fortunate to celebrate this historic occasion during our life time as we could not celebrate the 1st Centenary due to the Mughal regime and 2nd due to British rule. He said that now we were commemorating the Tercentenary celebrations of Sirhind-Fateh Diwas when our country was independent and SAD-BJP had its own government in Punjab.

Mr. Badal also commended the role of SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal besides other social and religious organizations for making ‘Fateh March’ from Nanded to Fatehgarh Sahib as a grand success.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced that the state government would construct a world class heritage memorial at Chhapar Chiri with in a year to commemorate the victory of Great Martyr Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his brave soldiers. He said that the state government had already acquired 20 acres of land at a cost of Rs.22 crore for the construction of heritage memorial which would house Minar-e-Fateh, a museum, an open air auditorium for light & Sound programme to depict the life and philosophy of valiant Sikh warrior.

He said that the state government had already embarked upon an ambitious programme to erect memorials of “Chhota and Vadda Ghallughara” (holocaust) at Kahanuwan in district Gurdaspur and Kupraheeran in district Barnala where 15000 and 35000 Sikhs were martyred. He said that these memorials would go a long way to perpetuate the memory of these great historic events which were an integral part of our rich legacy.

Earlier, the Chief Minister released commemorative coins on 'Sirhind Fateh Diwas' and a souvenir issued by SGPC. Besides he also released a postal envelop issued by the Punjab circle of the Post & Telegraph Department, GoI specially dedicated to the Sirhind victory day.

The Chief Minister also honoured Kaka Inderjit Singh from Chak Fateh Singhwala, the lineal descendent of Baba Fateh Singh, a brave soldier of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur who killed Suba Sirhind Wazid Khan in the battlefield of Chhapr Chiri, the family members of Justice Mota Singh from UK, an eminent Sikh Scholar Dr. Harnam Singh Shan, Head Damdami Takshal Baba Harnam Singh Dhuma, Sant Baba Balbir Singh Seechawal, father of Indian Hockey Captain Mr. Rajpal Singh, Bibi Inderjit Kaur head Pingalwara, Head Buddha Dal Baba Balbir Singh.

Earlier, the Chief Minister along with National President BJP Mr. Nitin Gadkari and Deputy Chief Minster Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal paid obeisance at the Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib and laid the foundation stone of Museum to depict the life and philosophy of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur to be constructed by SGPC.

Paying glorious tributes to the great warrior and reformist Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal called upon the people to follow his teachings, who not only established the Sikh Raj but also minted coins in the names of Guru Nanak Dev ji and Guru Gobind Singh ji and issued orders under his seal. One of the most revolutionary acts of Banda Bahadur, after establishing his authority in Punjab, was the abolition of the zamindari system, and granting proprietary rights to the actual tillers of the land.

He said that the SAD-BJP government in Punjab had also bestowed ownership rights to the landless labours in the state besides taking an initiative to grant old-age and widow pension, shagun scheme and Atta-Dal scheme for economically poor. He also mentioned that whenever SAD-BJP came into power, we commemorated such historic occasions with enthusiasm and fanfare be it Tercentenary of Khalsa Panth, 200 years of anointment of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Gurta-gadi and now Sirhind Fateh Diwas.

Speaking on the occasion, National BJP President Mr. Nitin Gadkari described Baba Banda Singh Bahadur as a great saint-solider who demonstrated the real spirit of secularism. He exhorted the people to imbibe the basic philosophy of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur who led a crusade against the tyrannical forces of Mughal Empire to lay the foundation of Khalsa raj.

Mr. Gadkari expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister, for giving him an opportunity to be part of these celebrations to pay tributes to the great hero who led a crusade against Mughals on the personal directions of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji from Nanded in Maharastra, his home state. He also appreciated the zeal and commitment of the people of Punjab to celebrate this mega-event in unison.

In his address President SGPC Jathedar Avtar Singh announced that the 300th anniversary of Martrydom of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his brave soldiers would be commemorated in 2016. He appealed the people to encourage the younger generation to participate in such historic occasions so that they could be inseparable part of our rich legacy which was replete with innumerable sacrifices.

Earlier, the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat Giani Gurbachan Singh in a message to the Sikh panth, emphasized the need to launch a crusade against the menace of drug addiction, female foeticide and adherence to the code of Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of Sikh living).

Meanwhile Advisor to Chief Minister Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema conducted the proceedings of the stage.

Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included BJP National General Secretary and MP Mr. Balbir Punj, Local Government Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, SAD Secretary General Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhundar and Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra (both SAD General Secretaries), SAD Sr. Vice President and former Minister Mr. Gurdev Singh Badal, Sikh leader from J&K Mr. Tarlochan Singh Wazir, Head Damdami Takasal Jathedar Harnam Singh Dhuma, former Jathedars of Sri Akal Takhat Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and Prof. Manjit Singh.

The function was also attended by the five Jathedars of Takhats, prominent heads of the religious and social organizations, SGPC members, SAD-BJP leaders and workers besides Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar, Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Master Mohan Lal, Mr. Sucha Singh Langha, Mr. Hira Singh Gabria, Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa (all cabinet ministers), Mr. Raj Khurana, Mr. Bikramjit Singh Khalsa (both Chief Parliamentary Secretaries), former Deputy Speaker Lok Sabha Mr. Charanjit Singh, Chairman District Planning Committee Patiala, Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, Chairperson District Planning Committee Fatehgarh Sahib Bibi Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Chairman Punjab Backward Classes Commission Mr. Kirpal Singh Badungar, former Minister Mr. Randhir Singh Cheema, Mr. Jasjit Singh Bunni, Mr. Didar Singh Bhatti, Jathedar Ujjagar Singh Baddali (all MLAs), Secretary SGPC Mr. Dalmegh Singh besides former Ministers Mr. Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Jathedar Tota Singh, Mr. Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur and Mr. Gobind Singh Kanjla.

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