Hoshiarpur/Garhshankar, May 2: Punjab School Education, Higher Education, Technical Education and Public Relations Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that every Punjabi has to become a warrior in the war against drugs, only then our dream of a prosperous Punjab will be fulfilled.
He was addressing as the chief guest the district level function of ‘Pinda De Pehredaar’ committees constituted under the state government’s ongoing anti-drug campaign ‘Nashe Ke Khilaf War’ in Hoshiarpur today.
Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh, Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Singh Raudi, Lok Sabha MP Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, MLA Hoshiarpur Brahm Shankar Jimpa, MLA Tanda Urmur Jasvir Singh Raja Gill, MLA Dasuha Karamveer Singh Ghuman, MLA Chabbewal Dr. Ishank Kumar and Mukerian constituency in-charge Prof. GS Multani were also present during the function. Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that public support is necessary to defeat the forces that are ruining the youth of Punjab through drugs.
Addressing the Pinddaan guards present, he said that they are the first line of defence of the government. He said that the new target is to take the anti-drug campaign to every household. Holding the previous governments responsible for pushing the youth of Punjab towards drugs, he said that the present government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is fully committed to eradicate this stigma.
He said that the Chief Minister has empowered the Punjab Police and has directed them not to spare anyone involved in the drug trade under any circumstances. Speaking on the issue of water, Cabinet Minister Bains criticized the policies of the Central Government and said that the prosperity of Punjab depends on agriculture and the basis of agriculture is water.
But the policies of the Central Government point to a deep conspiracy to snatch water from Punjab. Due to these policies, the farmers of Punjab are already facing serious problems and now the rights of Punjab are being openly looted. He emphasised that the state government led by the Chief Minister has not only ensured drinking water in every village but also water for irrigation through canals.
He made it clear that the government will take all necessary steps to ensure safety and conservation of Punjab's water resources. Referring to the apathy of previous governments in the education sector, he said thousands of schools lacked basic amenities like toilets and boundary walls - now these issues are being addressed.
He said that through the education revolution in Punjab, government schools are being upgraded by providing all modern facilities. Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Singh Raudi said that the government is leaving no stone unturned for the welfare of the people. He said that massive campaigns are being run across the state to eradicate drug abuse and now it is the moral responsibility of all of us to spread this message in every village.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain gave detailed information about the action being taken by the district administration under the war against drugs campaign, upcoming works of Gram Raksha Samitis and the functioning of de-addiction and rehabilitation centres. SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik highlighted the action being taken by the district police against drug smugglers and the awareness campaign being run. A play depicting the ill effects of drug abuse was also presented during the programme.
On the occasion, Vice Chairman Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation Harminder Singh Bakshi, Mayor Surinder Kumar, Chairperson District Planning Committee Karmjit Kaur, Chairman Municipal Improvement Trust Gurwinder Singh Pabla, Chairman Market Committee Hoshiarpur Jaspal Singh Chechi, Senior Deputy Mayor Praveen Saini, Deputy Mayor Ranjit Chaudhary, Zonal Coordinator Nasha Mukti Morcha Nayan Chhabra, District Coordinator Satwant Singh Sian and other dignitaries and officers of civil and police administration were also present.