Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday declared that he would not quit politics till he had ensured jobs for the youth and opportunities for all to grow in a progressive Punjab.
Capt Amarinder, addressing Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) members and workers at the installation ceremony of the youth wing’s newly-elected office-bearers including its president Barinder Singh Dhillon, made it clear that he would continue to lead Punjab in its growth and development.
“This is my state, you are all my people…I will always be here for you, and will not go anywhere till I have ensured the welfare of every citizen of Punjab,” said the Chief Minister amidst slogans of ‘Saada naara, Captain dobaraa’.
At the same time, Capt Amarinder assured the newly-elected office bearers of State Government’s full support in ensuring holistic development, and promised that they would get full respect from the officials and others in all departments for any work in the interest of the State and its youth.
Referring to the State Government’s flagship ‘Ghar Ghar Rozgar’ scheme, Capt Amarinder said that the private sector was supporting the initiative in a big way to supplement job opportunities for youth.
A large number of youngsters had already secured good jobs in the private sector, with one girl even getting a yearly package of Rs 42 lakhs, he pointed out, adding that the Government was doing its best to woo industry into the State to generate more employment opportunities.
Charging the Akalis with ruining the state to promote their self-interest, Capt Amarinder blamed them squarely for the spread of drugs and gangsterism in the state.
He flayed them for what he called the state’s second partition, which caused industry to shift to Haryana/NCR and tourism to Himachal Pradesh, leaving Punjab to struggle with poor resources.Speaking on the occasion, Cabinet Minister Vijay Inder Singla said that the youth body had been a great breeding ground for future leaders.
Zira MLA Kulbir Singh Zira lauded former Punjab Youth Congress presidents, including Singla, Jalalabad MLA Raminder Singh Awla, and Amarpreet Singh Lalli for their leadership, and expressed the confidence that new team would further strengthen the party at the grassroots.
He also requested the Chief Minister to give prominent posts to former PYC chiefs and members for their service to the party and the State.
Lauding the Chief Minister for heralding an era of all-round development, the new youth Congress president Barinder Singh Dhillon urged party’s all youth activists to vigorously spread the State Government’s programmes and policies.Thanking the Chief Minister for ensuring political space for youngsters, especially from middle class families, Dhillon said that leaders like Raja Amarinder Singh Warring, Kulbir Singh Zira and Dalvir Singh Goldy, amongst others, could only succeed because of the vision and leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh.
BOX: PREAMBLE CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO BE TINKERED WITH: CAPT
Terming the situation in the country these days as “extremely distressing”, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged the youth to come forward to safeguard the nation and its Constitutional principles of democracy and secularism.
“Congress is the only party that could provide secular, democratic rule,” he said.
The Congress fought for India’s independence and the Constitution was framed on the Preamble of a socialist secular democratic republic, he pointed out, adding that though the various Articles of the Constitution had since undergone many amendments, the Preamble has remained untouched.
“The Preamble cannot be allowed to be tinkered with,” said Captain Amarinder, lashing out at the current attempts by the BJP to divide the nation.
“What prevails today is not Lok Raj but goonda raj. We all know what happened with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Uttar Pradesh,” he said, underlining the need for youth to take the lead in saving the country.