CAPTAIN’S FORMER CABINET COLLEAGUE SLAMS HIM FOR SHYING AWAY FROM ATTENDING ANY FUNCTION ASSOCIATED WITH SCs IN HIS AROUND DECADE LONG TENURE
Phagwara, October 22 2021 : Former Punjab Minister,who was member of Captain Cabinet during 2003-2004 and Chairman of Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Joginder Singh Mann today hailed the Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi for making budgetary provisions for chair on name of Bhagwan Valmiki ji and setting up of new chair on name of Baba Jiwan Singh ji. He also slammed the former Chief Minister for shying away to attend function related to SCs during his decade long tenure as CM.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, Mann said that the entire Valmiki/ Mazhbi Sikh community is indebted to the Chief Minister for this path breaking initiatives. He said that from the core of my heart, he expressed gratitude on behalf of Valmiki/ Mazhbi Sikh Community as the Chief Minister has made a marvelous effort to perpetuate the life and philosophy of ‘Karuna sagar’ Bhagwan Valmiki Ji by announcing a budgetary allocation of Rs 5 crore for already existing Bhagwan Valmiki ji chair in Guru Nanak Dev University of the state. The former Minister said that this is the need of the hour to perpetuate the glorious legacy of Bhagwan Valmiki Ji in every nook and corner of the world as Bhagwan Valmiki ji’s masterpiece composition the “Ramayana” has from centuries taught the way of life to the people and has been a lighthouse of the ethical and moral living for the people.
The former Minister also said that community is also indebted to Chief Minister for announcing a chair in the name of legendary Sikh Warrior Shaheed Baba Jiwan Singh ji (Bhai Jaita ji), a devout companion of Dasmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, who carried the severed head (sheesh) of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji from Chandni Chowk, Delhi to Anandpur Sahib. He said that it is a world known fact that Baba Jiwan Singh ji had to brave all odds amid the tyranny unleashed by the then Mughal regime for this holy cause. Mann said that it is heartening to know that chair will also be given annual grant of Rs. 5 crore every year to undertake extensive research on the teachings and philosophy of iconic Sikh warrior. The former Minister said that both these decisions will go a long way in ensuring proper research on lives of Bhagwan Valmiki ji and Baba Jiwan Singh ji thereby enabling the people about their lives and philosophy.
Lauding the Chief Minister, for infusing a new life in working of the Punjab government with his meticulous and hard working style, Mann said that this have given much needed succor to the general public. He said that the impeccable working style of Channi has emerged him as ‘people’s Chief Minister’ on one hand and freed the people and Punjab government from clutches of aristocratic approach which your predecessor was having.
The former Minister also said that he has no hesitation to say that Channi has became the first Congress Chief Minister in last 20 years to attend a state level function to mark the pargat utsav of Bhagwan Valmiki ji.
The former Minister bemoaned that Channi’s predecessor and ex-Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had a myopic mindset which was full of prejudice for SC community due to which he always had some sort of hesitation in meeting the representatives of community. He said that the former Maharaja of Patiala had never bothered to attend any state level program related with Bhagwan Valmiki ji or Sri Guru Ravidass Maharaj ji during his entire tenure spanning over more than nine years adding that it is unfortunate that Maharaja not only ignored the interests of the community but also weakened its leadership and maintained a distance from these auspicious functions of the community.
The Former Minister further said that as a fact of matter, like a parasite plant ‘Amarbel’ the Maharaja and his coterie weakened the base of party by ensuring poorest of poor governance and ignoring the interests of the SC community. He said that the worst thing was that the former Chief Minister also allowed the open loot of money, right under his nose, which was meant for SC students under the ‘Post Matric Scholarship scheme’ thereby ruining the prospects of millions of SC students. However, he said that Channi’s stance is a paradigm shift which has given a fresh lease of life to party besides enhancing the festivities of the community
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