‘Help reclaim glory of Punjab’: Haryana CM appeals to residents

Chandigarh, June 24 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, addressing the people from the sacred land of Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab on Wednesday, called upon them to reclaim their lost glory and move towards making the state number one in the country through development, good governance and politics guided by national interest.

Paying obeisance to the first Sikh master, Guru Nanak Dev, all Guru Sahibs and Sahibzadas, the Chief Minister said the holy land of Sri Muktsar Sahib “stands witness to the unparalleled sacrifices of Chali Mukte, Bhai Maha Singh-ji and Mai Bhago-ji”.

He added that Punjab and Haryana share a common culture, language and emotional bond.

Saini said he had come before the people of Punjab not as the Chief Minister of a neighbouring state but as a younger brother and a well-wisher.

He remarked that the people of Punjab had earlier given opportunities to the Congress and later to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), but neither had met the people's expectations.

He accused the Congress of corruption, dynastic politics, and obstructing development, while alleging that the AAP had turned Punjab into a political laboratory and had failed to fulfil its promises.

The Chief Minister said AAP had made tall promises in Punjab, but today every section of society was asking where the promised change was. He pointed out that the promise to provide Rs 1,100 per month to women had not been fulfilled even after 4 years.

In contrast, he said, the Haryana government had begun providing Rs 2,100 per month to women from poor families under the Deendayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, with crores of rupees already transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

He questioned the AAP government over issues relating to drug abuse, crime, illegal mining, financial mismanagement and deteriorating law and order. He said Punjab’s youth were struggling to find employment and that thousands of young people were being compelled to seek illegal routes to migrate abroad.

Saini stressed that the most serious crisis facing Punjab was the growing menace of drugs, which had devastated many families and endangered the future of the youth.

--IANS

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