India’s secular foundations will remain strong: Punjab CM

Tribune News Service
Mohali, January 26

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said on Sunday that India’s secular foundations continue to stand firm.

At Republic Day Celebrations on Sunday, the Chief Minister pointed to a resolution that the Punjab Assembly recently passed against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act and said that the state would not allow the country’s secular fabric to be destroyed.

Capt Amarinder invoked the words of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, and said:  “Secularism was the message of our Guru, whose philosophy of ‘Na koyi Hindu, Na koyi Musalaman, Sab Rab ke bande’ is imbued in our consciousness”.  

Capt Amarinder hoisted the Tricolor and then watched a parade. For the first time this year, Punjab’s Special Operations Group (SOG), constituted by the Chief Minister, was part of Republic Day celebrations.  The elite task force is meant to be counter-terrorism outfit.

The Chief Minister mentioned the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor—a route that links India to the revered Gurdwara Nankana Sahib at Kartarpur. The shrine is considered significant to Skh pilgrims because it is the birthplace of Guru Nanak.

 “The state was also honoured to be celebrating the 550th Birth Anniversary Year of Guru Nanak Dev ji, the 399th Birth Anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur ji, the 100th Birth Anniversary of Acharya Shri Mahapragya—the 10th head of Svetambar Terapanth order of Jainism, the 750th Birth Anniversary of Bhagat Namdev ji and the 350th Birth Anniversary of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur,” Amarinder Singh said.

New development initiatives for SAS Nagar

Captain Amarinder also announced a series of welfare and development initiatives to boost development in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS Nagar). He announced an integrated waste management system for the disposal of waste in the region. Land had been identified and possession already handed over to the Department of Local Government for this purpose, he said.

He said a new sewage treatment plant would be set up at Kharar as part of state government’s inititive to build a swachch (clean) Punjab. The government would continue to work towards ensure sustainable development by creating the necessary infrastructure for a clean and green Punjab, he said.

A new market committee will be set up in Mohali to facilitate smooth and hassle-free procurement and marketing of produce for the farmers, announced Captain Amarinder. He also announced construction of a police line to ensure the welfare of the police force and their families in the district.