DW BUREAU / Batala

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday slammed the traditional political parties of the state for backstabbing the brave people of the border region by ruining their several generations for their vested political interests.

Addressing the gathering after dedicating newly upgraded Sugar Mill at Batala, the Chief Minister bemoaned that the progressive and fertile border region of the state has lagged behind in the pace of development due to apathetic attitude of the traditional political parties. He said that the leaders of these parties ruined the younger generations of the state by implicating them in false cases by misusing their power. Bhagwant Singh Mann that the residents of border districts of the state are brave people who have always safeguarded the unity and sovereignty of the country.

The Chief Minister said that this is the sacred land blessed by great Gurus and is inhabited by brave and hard working people who have suffered due to political vendetta of traditional parties. He said that this region which had produced great patriots and nationalists had not witnessed the development during the regime of traditional parties. Bhagwant Singh Mann bemoaned that despite their enormous contribution the people of this region have been deceived by the traditional parties.

However, the Chief Minister said that his government is working tirelessly for development of this region due to which this upgraded sugar mill has been constructed at a cost of Rs Cost 296 crore. He said that the mill has a capacity of crushing 3500 tons of sugar and houses a co-generation plant of 14 Mega Watts. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that refined sugar will be produced in this mill adding that this will be the first cooperative sugar mill of the state to do so.

The Chief Minister said that the mill has a target of crushing 35 lakh quintal sugarcane in the current season adding that it is a very environmentally friendly plant. He said that this is the first of its kind Sugar Mill in India where 100% of gas will be injected in the pipeline. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the capacity of the mill was 14000 Cubic meters daily and it will prevent pollution equal to that caused by 30,000 cars in the environment.

The Chief Minister said that it will process over 150 tons of waste daily and will produce 20 tons of the best organic fertilizer thereby giving impetus to the local economy. He said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that Bahadurpur is the first village in Punjab to have a pipeline to deliver cooking gas. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this mill has been equipped with the latest available technology across the globe adding that it will immensely benefit the sugarcane cultivators of the region.

The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that Punjab is giving the highest rate of sugarcane not only in the country but across the globe thereby immensely benefitting its farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state will continue to lead the country in maximum sugarcane price as per the commitment of the state government. He said that his government has always provided high rates to the sugarcane cultivators and this trend will continue in future too.

The Chief Minister said that the social bonding in the state is so strong that any seed could grow on the fertile land of Punjab but the seed of hatred will never germinate here at any cost. He said that though futile attempts are being made to disturb hard earned peace of state, Punjab is a sacred land of great Gurus, saints and seers who have shown us the path of mutual love and tolerance. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjabis have always opposed tyranny, injustice and oppression by cementing the bond of love and harmony.

The Chief Minister said that AAP is credited for bringing sectors like health, education, power, water and infrastructure at the centre stage of national politics. He said that these sectors are the top five priorities of his government and no stone is being left unturned for it. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that while the other political parties have always pursued the agenda of hatred and divisiveness, AAP had given new direction to politics by according top priority to these sectors.

Quoting verse 'Pawan Guru, Paani Pitaah, Mata Dharat Mahat' from Gurbani, the Chief Minister said that the great Gurus have equated air (pawan) with teacher, water (paani) with father and land (dharat) with mother. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now the time has come when we must imbibe the teachings of Gurbani in our lives for restoring the pristine glory of the state by resolving to save the environment of the state. He said that the state government is setting up such plants to reduce pollution thereby helping in making the state clean, green and pollution free.

(editor@dailyworld.in)