Punjab Irrigation and Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh on Thursday said that a state free of drug menace would be a true tribute to martyr Bhagat Singh and his freedom fighter associates.
Rana Gurjit, presiding over a state-level function to commemorate the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, gave a clarion call to the people to cooperate with the state government in its initiative to wipe out the menace of drugs among youth of Punjab.
The minister also appealed to his party leaders to not come to the rescue of persons who are nabbed during the anti-drug drive by the law enforcement agencies.
“Please do not call the police officials asking for release of such anti-social elements,” he said, adding that making Punjab drug-free was a promise made by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and no one involved in drugs would be spared in any case.
“Tribute to Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat for the year 2017 will be eradication of drugs in Punjab. Punjab government will leave no stone unturned for this,” wrote Rana Gurjit, who was deputed by Capt Amarinder to preside over the function in his absence, in the visitor’s book at the memorial site.
Earlier, after offering floral tributes at the statue of Bhagat Singh and the memorial of his father Kishan Singh, the Minister honoured relatives of martyrs Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev with mementos.
Zorawar Singh Sandhu, nephew of Bhagat Singh; Vinod Thapar, Ashok Thapar, Sandeep Thapar, nephews of Sukhdev; and Tribhuwan Thapar, grandson of Sukhdev, were also honoured.
Rana Gurjeet also raised the issue of ignorance of Doaba region by previous SAD-BJP government saying that he had even raised the demand of strengthening canal water irrigation system in the region on the floor of Punjab Assembly during his last term. “Now, we will strengthen the irrigation facility in the region by setting up an advanced irrigation system of channelizing water from river to farms through pipes”, he said.