Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday exhorted the Punjabis to take a pledge to counter the narco-terrorism sponsored by anti-Punjab forces head-on to make the state completely drug-free.
Addressing the gathering before flagging off a massive anti-drugs cycle rally organized by Punjab Police here on Thursday to commemorate the martyrdom day of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, the Chief Minister said that since inception Punjab has been constantly attacked by the invaders and Punjabis have faced them valiantly. He said that now the Punjabis are fighting a war against narco terrorism which is being funded by the ant-Punjab forces who want to derail the state.
He also added that the day is not far when Punjab will be a drug-free state for which every Punjabi should take a vow.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has launched a crusade against drugs for which Ardas were performed at Sri Harmandir Sahib in the sacred city of Amritsar.
Mann said that we need not count the martyrs of Punjab as every village of Punjab has an imprint of these heroes on its soil. He said that as a fact of matter every inch of this sacred land has the footprint of great Gurus, saints, seers, martyrs, and poets. Punjabis have been blessed with an indomitable spirit of hard work and resilience due to which they carve out space for themselves.
The Chief Minister said that the Punjab government has laid a major thrust on the promotion of games in the state thereby utilizing the unbounded energy of youth in a positive direction. He said that for the first time, the state government has given funds to the players for the preparation of games so that they excel in sporting events.
Paying glorious tribute to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha on this historic day, the Chief Minister said that the real homage to this great martyr would be to take a pledge on this solemn day to further strengthen the bonds of unity, integrity, and brotherhood in our country. He said that the state government has already declared November 16 as a Gazetted holiday every year in observance of the martyrdom day of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha.
The Chief Minister said that the iconic martyr had laid down his life to emancipate the country from the clutches of British Imperialism at a very young age. He said that the martyrdom of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha inspired several other youngsters like Shaheed Bhagat Singh to take part in the freedom movement and lay down their lives at the altar of the motherland.
On the occasion, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and others were also present.