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Tribune News Service
Bathinda, August 21
Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal yesterday exhorted the people of the state and Haryana not to burn paddy straw as it would be a true tribute to Guru Nanak Dev, when the 550th Parkash Purab celebrations are around the corner.
The minister was talking to mediapersons after attending a public function in Bathinda. He said Guru Nanak Dev clearly stated that “Air is the Guru, water is the father and Earth is the great mother of all, and by burning agricultural residues, we are defiling air, which has been described as our guru.”
The Finance Minister said, “If the founder of the Sikh faith had treated air, water and earth with such reverence, then we should follow the teachings and not defile and pollute the environment. By not following the message, we are drifting away from the path that has been prescribed for us”.
Manpreet Singh said millions of pilgrims from across the globe were expected to converge on Punjab for the auspicious event. “Keeping in view the true traditions of Punjab and Punjabiat, I am sure that we will greet them with folded hands, and bow our heads in respect to our guests and open our doors and kitchens and langar. We should also commit ourselves to providing them with a clean and pure environment,” he added.
Taking a pledge not to burn stubble and paddy resodue would be a true tribute to the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev, and it will also be in tune with the message of “Sarbat Da Bhalla”.
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