Una, November 13:- Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri attended the sacred Dangal organised at Jakhewal (Beetan) in Haroli late Thursday evening. The Dangal Committee and Panchayat representatives accorded him a traditional welcome on his arrival. On the occasion, he witnessed the wrestling bouts and also sought the blessings of Sant Baba Anoop Maharaj.
Addressing the gathering, Agnihotri said that he had been associated with the sacred Dangal of Sant Baba Dhangoo Wale Maharaj for the past 24 years. He said, “Maharaj invited me to this Dangal continuously for 24 years. The love I have received from this land and Baba Ji is something I can never repay. I am grateful to the people of the constituency for giving me the opportunity to serve them as an MLA for 25 years.” He added that the people of the constituency were also receiving the blessings of Sant Baba Anoop Maharaj.
Describing the Dangal as the finest in North India and the largest in Himachal Pradesh, he said that every possible support would be extended to carry forward its glorious tradition.
On the occasion, Shri Agnihotri handed over a cheque of Rs. 30 lakh for the development of the sports ground. He announced a grant of Rs. 11 lakh for organising the sacred Dangal and also announced Rs. 1 crore 14 lakh for the construction of the Panchayat Bhawan. He informed that the amount of Rs. 25 lakh sought for the lanes and roads of the area had already been released before the event.
The Deputy Chief Minister paid tribute to Sant Baba Dhangoo Wale Maharaj and recalled his contributions towards human welfare and social service. He said that Maharaj served society by running a hospital and a cow shelter and, recognising the importance of education, established a college at Beetan. Responding to the demand for introducing new courses at the college, he said that the courses would be decided through discussions in accordance with the directions of Sant Baba Anoop Maharaj and local representatives, and efforts would be made to introduce them from next April. He said that the sapling of education planted by Maharaj would continue to flourish.
Agnihotri stated that the Haroli area currently has three colleges, 33 senior secondary schools, one Kendriya Vidyalaya, an IIIT, a law college and a nursing college, along with several other educational institutions. He said that Beetan College would also be developed in a well-planned manner. He assured that the demands raised by Panchayat Pradhan Sewanath would be considered positively and expressed gratitude to everyone for the affection and warmth extended to him during the event.
