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Muktsar: On the sacred occasion of Maghi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday said the recovery of 169 missing saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was not an achievement but a responsibility of the government towards the Sikh Panth and the people of Punjab.
After paying obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Tuti Gandi Sahib, the Chief Minister addressed a massive gathering at Sri Muktsar Sahib, asserting that institutions entrusted with safeguarding Sikh religious affairs had failed in their duty in the past. He said the publication and management of saroops is the responsibility of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Still, he alleged that this responsibility was neglected due to the Akali Dal’s control over the body.
“The SIT probing the case of 328 missing saroops has so far recovered 169 saroops from a religious place near Banga, out of which 139 have no official record. This is not an achievement for us; this is our duty,” the Chief Minister said, adding that exploiting religion for political gains was an unpardonable sin.
₹1,000 monthly assistance for women soon
Making a significant announcement, CM Mann said the Punjab Government would soon roll out a ₹1,000 per month assistance scheme for women, with the required budgetary provision to be made in the upcoming state budget.
“We have fulfilled every promise made to the people of Punjab, and this commitment will also be honoured,” he said.
‘People have rejected traditional politics’
Referring to the large turnout at the Maghi gathering, the Chief Minister said it reflected people’s trust in pro-people governance. Taking a swipe at opposition parties, he said traditional political forces were unsettled because a government led by a “common man” had cleaned up the system.
He listed key initiatives of his government, including the recruitment of over 63,000 youth on merit, the opening of Aam Aadmi Clinics, the closure of 19 toll plazas, free electricity for most households, the expansion of road infrastructure, and steps to improve policing by recruiting more than 10,000 police personnel.
Manish Sisodia: People want Mann again
Addressing the gathering, senior AAP leader and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia said the massive participation in the Maghi rally showed that people had already made up their mind to re-elect the Bhagwant Mann-led government.
“The work done by this government has been appreciated across the country. The people of Punjab want continuity of this pro-people governance,” Sisodia said. Several Cabinet ministers, MLAs and senior AAP leaders were present at the event, which coincided with one of the most essential religious congregations in Punjab, commemorating the martyrdom of the Forty Liberated Ones (Chali Mukte).
