Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday paid obeisance at the Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib on the occasion of the Baisakhi festival and prayed for the peace, progress and prosperity of the state.
The chief minister felicitated the Punjabis across the globe on the sacred occasion of Baisakhi, which he said symbolizes "the spirit of Punjab, Punjabi and unity in diversity".
Mann, according to an official statement, further said that this festival marks the beginning of the harvest season and ripening of Rabi crops.
He said that on this festival, the farmers of the state gather the fruits of toil and rejoice over their prosperous future. However, Mann bemoaned that this year the situation is different as farmers have suffered huge crop loss due to the incessant rains recently.
The chief minister reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to bail out the farmers from this situation and said the state government is solidly behind the peasants and farm labourers in this hour of crisis.
According to the statement, Mann also said the state government has already started the process for disbursing compensation to the farmers for this huge loss.
Mann said a transparent process had been adopted for 'girdawari' (field inspection) to ascertain the loss to compensate the farmers.
Exhorting the people to celebrate this joyous festival in unison with traditional gaiety and fervour, the chief minister said it will help in strengthening the secular and social fabric of our country.
Mann said that in unison with the teachings of the great Sikh Gurus, the Punjab government is making strenuous efforts for progress of the state and prosperity of its people.
"Punjab is today one of the most peaceful states in the country due to which big industrial tycoons of the country are making a beeline to invest in the state," he said as he urged the people "to beware of the misleading propaganda being made by some elements to disturb hard-earned peace of the state".
Reminding the people of the rich glorious and cultural heritage of the day, he said that on this sacred day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh -- the tenth Master of the Sikhs -- had created 'Khalsa Panth' at the holy city of Anandpur Sahib by baptizing 'Panj Pyaras (beloved ones) belonging to different regions and religions.
Mann said that the tenth Sikh Guru thereby carved out a casteless society and preached the gospels of love and compassion for mankind, universal brotherhood and communal harmony.
-With PTI Input
