DW BUREAU / Sunam

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP's National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday pledged to realise dreams of martyrs.

Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone of projects to the tune of Rs 85 crore to give a facelift to Shaheed Udham Singh town, Kejriwal said that Shaheed Udham Singh made a supreme sacrifice for the sake of the freedom of the country.

"It's a matter of pride and satisfaction to be part of this function to pay tribute to the iconic martyr," he said.

Kejriwal said India's freedom struggle saw countless sacrifices for the sake of the country to carve out an egalitarian society to ensure welfare of the weaker and underprivileged sections.

However, Kejriwal added that it is unfortunate that even after 75 years of freedom none of their aspirations have been fulfilled as those in power misused their authority to plunder the nation's wealth.

He said previous regimes ruined Punjab by allowing the spread of drugs and corruption, adding that they looted public money for safeguarding their own interests. Arvind Kejriwal said that schools and hospitals were in shackles as these governments never bothered about providing quality health services and education to the youth of the state adding that drugs were introduced in the state by these leaders, which ruined our generations.

The former Delhi Chief Minister said that it is elated to learn that the backbone of the drug has been broken for which the state government needs a pat. He said that the manner in which this anti-drug campaign has been launched finds no parallel in contemporary Indian history. Arvind Kejriwal said that the most notorious and feared drug lord has been put behind the bars by an honest government in the state.

The National convener of AAP said that no one had ever dared to touch this influential political leader, who was instrumental in introducing and spreading the drug in the state. However, Arvind Kejriwal said that the state government has done exemplary work against drugs and have put the kingpin of drug trade behind the bars. He said that exemplary action will be taken against such people who have ruined the future of our coming generations adding that none of them will be spared for such heinous crimes.

The National Convener said that Punjab has seen revolutionary changes in every sector under the regime of Bhagwant Mann led state government as schools are being upgraded, hospitals are getting facelifts, canal water is reaching the farmers, 20,000 kilometre rural roads and others are being constructed.

He said that an honest government is leaving no stone unturned to realize the aspirations of the martyrs by judiciously utilizing every single penny of government money adding that there is no dearth of funds for this noble cause. Arvind Kejriwal warned the people that if Congress or Akali-BJP ever return to power in the state they will again derail the ongoing development in Punjab through their misdeeds.

In his address, the Chief Minister said that it is the duty of the state government to pay tributes to such legendary martyrs who had laid down their lives for the sake of the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that naming the airports, universities and other institutions in the name of these iconic martyrs is important to perpetuate their glorious legacy. He said that the countrymen are enjoying the fruits of freedom due to the enormous sacrifices made by legendary heroes like Shaheed Udham Singh.

The Chief Minister said that Shaheed Udham Singh was a true son of soil, who had in a heroic act exhibited exemplary courage by killing Michael O' Dwyer, the prime perpetrator of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Bhagwant Mann said that the unprecedented sacrifice made by this iconic martyr at the altar of national freedom struggle helped the country to overthrow the yoke of British Imperialism. He further said that Shaheed Udham Singh waited for 21 years to avenge the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh and thus laid the foundation of the

freedom of the nation.

(editor@dailyworld.in)