category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that the state government is duty bound to make a progressive, peaceful and prosperous state by foiling the nefarious designs of anti-Punjab forces who want to make the state into Afghanistan. In an emotive appeal to the people, the Chief Minister said that some people are trying to divide the state on sectarian lines for the sake of their own vested interests. He said that such self proclaimed leaders of religion have nothing to do with the state and its people adding that these leaders just want to disturb the peace and amity in the state. However, Bhagwant Mann said that such evil designs of these leaders inimical to Punjab and its people will not be allowed at any cost and they will be given a befitting answer. The Chief Minister said that it is very easy to give the sermons of taking weapons to the sons of other families, but such preachers run away from these things when they face the harsh realities. He said that Punjabis should not sway away with the ideas of such self proclaimed preachers who have no emotional bonding with the state and its people. Bhagwant Mann said that the sole motive of these leaders was to disturb the hard earned peace of the state through their venomous ideas. However, the Chief Minister categorically said that the state government is duty bound to maintain peace, amity and communal harmony in Punjab at all costs adding that youth of the state will not be allowed to become raw material for the hate factories being run in the name of religion. He said that today is the era of education and across the globe the people with knowledge and expertise are recognized due to which the state government is making strenuous efforts to promote education in Punjab. Bhagwant Mann said that they want to see books, laptops, jobs, medals and progress in the hands of youth but these leaders want to disarray the youth by asking them to take weapons in their hands. The Chief Minister unequivocally said that they not only know how to form the government by winning the hearts of people but they also know how to run the government effectively. He said that these leaders are highly mistaken if they think that they can divide people on communal lines because the peace loving Punjabis will thwart any such attempt. Bhagwant Mann also thanked the people for reposing faith in him adding that he will uphold the faith of people by making Punjab a progressive, peaceful and prosperous state. (editor dailyworld.in)