Hussainiwala (Punjab), Sep 28 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday called upon the youth to follow the ideals of Shaheed Bhagat Singh to make Punjab a front-runner state in the country.
The Chief Minister laid floral tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev here during which a contingent of Punjab Police gave guard of honour as a mark of respect.
The Chief Minister said all have to make strenuous efforts to realise the dreams of martyrs. He said it was the need of hour to restore the pristine glory of the state.
Mann said Shaheed Bhagat Singh was not only an individual but an institution, adding that everyone must follow his footsteps for the progress of the country.
The Chief Minister said the supreme sacrifice of Shaheed Bhagat Singh would ever inspire the youth to serve the country. Apart from emancipating the country from foreign clutches, Bhagat Singh had also envisioned a corruption and poverty-free India.
However, Mann said that the country is still facing these problems.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced to upgrade Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University. He said new courses will be introduced in the university so that more and more jobs can be created for the youth.
Earlier, the Chief Minister announced to resume Shaheed Bhagat Singh Yuva award and setting up of chair at Guru Nanak Dev university in name of legendary martyr.
Addressing the gathering at Khatkar Kalan, the martyr's native place, at a state-level function, the Chief Minister said the award would bestow to 46 youths every year for their outstanding contribution in several fields.
He said the award winners will get cash money worth Rs 51,000 along with an appreciation certificate.
Mann bemoaned that this award was stopped around seven years back but will be resumed now.
Making an announcement in a video message, he said the Aam Aadmi Party government's scheme is aimed at providing good quality ration 'atta' (wheat flour) and 'daal' (pulses) to the people packed in clean gunny bags.
About 105.14 lakh farmers have been benefited with an MSP value of Rs 1,45,358.13 crore, government data showed. Apart from Punjab (1,87,28,335 MT) and Chhattisgarh (92,01,000 MT), the other top paddy procurement states included Telangana (70,22,000 MT), Uttar Pradesh (65,53,029 MT) Odisha (57,16,134), Haryana (55,30,596), Madhya Pradesh (45,82,610), and Bihar (44,90,319 MT).
The bank employees organised demonstrations, sit-in protests, processions and rallies near their workplaces in different cities and towns protesting against the privatisation of banks undertaken by the Centre.
While complimenting the enforcement officers, he said their hands-on approach has led to large number of seizures in the state of fake and smuggled goods. He was speaking at an interactive session by FICCI CASCADE on the 'Strategies' to combat smuggling and counterfeiting, here.
Cheema was responding the Centre's decision on new rules governing the Chandigarh Administration employees, who are currently working under the Punjab service rules but will now come under the Central Civil Services Rules.
Reacting strongly to the announcement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to bring Chandigarh union territory employees under Central civil services rules, the SAD said, "It is incumbent on the AAP government to make the Centre understand that Chandigarh is a union territory as per an ad-hoc arrangement only.
