Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday paid obeisance at Village Seechewal during the 38th Salana Barsi Samagam (death anniversary) of Sant Baba Avtar Singh Ji and projected a confident vision of a resurgent and self-reliant Punjab, as he inaugurated a new astroturf at the Sant Avtar Singh Memorial Hockey Stadium alongside Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal.
Highlighting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government’s aggressive push on sports infrastructure, irrigation, groundwater recharge and public welfare, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Government had delivered 21,000 cusecs of water to fields, equivalent to two Bhakra canals, while sustained environmental efforts had helped recharge 21 lakh cubic metres of groundwater, leading to a rise of 2 to 4 metres in the water table in several areas. Emphasising that Punjab is witnessing rapid transformation through world-class Government schools, hospitals, roads and sporting facilities, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that the colours of a vibrant “Rangla Punjab” have now started emerging across the state.
Addressing a massive gathering, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Punjab has very fertile land and anything can germinate on it except hatred and animosity. Punjab is the sacred land of great Gurus, saints and seers who have shown us the path of mutual love and tolerance. The social bonding among people is already very strong and people should come together to strengthen it further.”
He asserted, “It is high time that Punjabis unite to give a befitting reply to divisive forces that are enemies of the peace, amity and communal harmony of the state. Those trying to disturb communal harmony are enemies of Punjab because they want to push the state back into dark days. These forces want to gain power by creating communal strife, but they will not succeed because people in Punjab celebrate all festivals together.”
Urging people to remain united, the Chief Minister added, “Some political parties are trying to divide people in the name of religion. Their politics revolves around creating divisions between communities and then frightening both sides for votes. People must remain cautious of such politics. These people spread hatred by dividing society on the basis of caste and religion, but the AAP does not believe in such politics.”
Quoting the Gurbani verse “Pawan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat,” he shared, “The great Gurus equated air with teacher, water with father and land with mother. Guru Sahib had warned future generations to respect nature, but unfortunately human beings have failed to preserve this honour and dignity for nature. The time has now come to imbibe the teachings of Gurbani in our lives and restore the pristine glory of Punjab by resolving to save the environment.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The state government is leaving no stone unturned for this noble cause and people should support the government by planting more and more trees. I am always keen on meeting religious and spiritual leaders because their work is never related to worldly power or official posts. They focus on building roads leading to religious places, constructing sheds for congregations, arranging langars for devotees, cleaning canals and water streams, protecting the environment and serving humanity selflessly. It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that renowned environmentalist and Rajya Sabha MP Sant Baba Balbir Singh Ji Seechewal has become synonymous with the ‘Seechewal Model’.”
The Punjab CM said, “Thirty-eight years ago, this place was covered with sand dunes where peanuts and small crops used to grow. Due to the massive efforts of Baba ji, this place has now been transformed into a flourishing green environment where thousands of trees and hundreds of varieties of plants have been planted. These trees provide fruits and shade throughout Punjab and people come here to take saplings from the nursery for plantation elsewhere.”
He further remarked, “Only a few dedicated souls are striving to protect the sacred balance of nature and Punjab is fortunate that Sant Baba Balbir Singh Ji is one of them. Whenever Baba ji speaks in Parliament, nobody interrupts him because everyone knows that he always speaks for society, for the environment and for future generations. Very few people are blessed with the opportunity to perform such noble service and Baba ji has always spread the message of humanity, honest living, sharing and righteousness.”
The Chief Minister stated, “In recent years, many painful incidents related to the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib Ji have occurred. Every few days, heartbreaking news emerged about torn or burnt pages being found on streets, in garbage heaps or in disrespectful conditions. This was extremely painful, but the agony deepened further when the accused were released on bail due to weak laws and loopholes.”
He asserted, “After consulting the entire Sant Samaj, holding meetings in Amritsar and Chandigarh and discussing the matter with lawyers and retired judges, the state government formulated a strict law against ‘beadbi’ with no loopholes. The Almighty bestowed upon me the service to serve humanity through the enactment of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026, which provides harsher punishment for ‘beadbi’. Under this law, anyone attempting desecration can face imprisonment ranging from ten years to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹50 lakh.”
The Chief Minister added, “If the accused cannot pay the fine, their property can be sold so that future generations remember the consequences of hurting people’s sentiments by disrespecting Guru Sahib. This law will act as a deterrent and no one will dare to commit such crimes in the future. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is like a father to every Sikh and it is our duty to ensure its sanctity because if the state government cannot do that, no one else will.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “In accordance with the ideology of Baba Sahib Dr BR Ambedkar, the state government is continuously working to improve people’s lives through education and healthcare. The Punjab Government has upgraded schools, opened Schools of Eminence, built colleges and sent teachers abroad for training so that our children can compete globally. Similarly, hospitals across the state have been transformed and nearly 1,000 Aam Aadmi Clinics are serving people where crores of patients have received treatment and free medicines.”
The Chief Minister shared, “The state government is also working to revive Buddha Dariya and restore clean water flow there to benefit people in a major way. Punjab used 96% canal water this year through an improved irrigation system, which immensely benefited farmers, whereas earlier this water was wasted. The Punjab Government has laid 14,000 kilometres of pipes and watercourses across the state to help farmers in every nook and corner.”
He stated, “A total of 21,000 cusecs of water has been released through these pipelines and watercourses to fulfil irrigation needs. This amount of water is more than the supply from two Bhakra canals and farmers will benefit immensely from it. Recharge points have also been created in canals and rivers, due to which groundwater levels have risen by two to four metres.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasised, “This decision has been taken for the wellbeing of future generations because Punjab stands for water and without water the state has no existence. After decades, many people witnessed canal water flowing again. Canal water not only saves groundwater but also improves soil fertility. The state government has ushered in a new era of improved canal irrigation, greatly benefiting farmers.”
The Chief Minister said, “The state government has launched the Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana under which every woman will receive ₹1,000 per month and women belonging to SC communities will receive ₹1,500 per month. The amount will be directly transferred to bank accounts and women already receiving social security pensions will also be eligible. Around 97% of women in Punjab are expected to benefit and the state government has allocated ₹9,300 crore in the budget.”
Urging women to apply for the scheme, he added, “This assistance may not make women rich, but it will provide them dignity and self-respect. Women deserve the highest respect because they are the source of life itself. The blessings of mothers and sisters can help overcome every challenge in the world. Strengthening women’s financial autonomy is essential for improving household welfare, promoting gender equality and increasing women’s participation in social and economic decision-making.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana has been launched under which health cards are being issued to all 65 lakh families in Punjab. Every family is entitled to free treatment up to ₹10 lakh and more than 30 lakh beneficiaries have already received health cards. Around 1.65 lakh people have already received free treatment under this scheme and people should take maximum benefit from these cards.”
The Chief Minister shared, “Local village representatives have also submitted demands for sports grounds and roads, and the state government will fulfil these demands. International-level hockey grounds will be developed because hockey is Punjab’s popular sport, while roads will also be constructed and repaired. The state government is duty-bound to ensure the welfare and development of Punjab and the prosperity of its people, and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause.”
Paying tributes to Sant Baba Avatar Singh Ji, he stated, “Sant Baba ji rendered invaluable services for the promotion of Sikhism and spread the message of love, compassion and brotherhood as preached by our great Gurus not only in Punjab but across the country and the world. Baba ji was a pious soul who redeemed mankind from sorrow and agony by inspiring people to walk on the path of spirituality. He will always be remembered for his humility and benevolence.”
Sharing a few snippets from the occasion, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “Today, I had the privilege of paying obeisance at Village Seechewal on the occasion of the 38th death anniversary of Sant Baba Avtar Singh Ji. On this occasion, along with Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal Ji, I inaugurated the new astroturf at the ‘Sant Avtar Singh Memorial Hockey Stadium’. I wholeheartedly salute the selfless service being carried out by Sant Ji for environmental conservation. The AAP Government is fully committed to ensuring a safe and prosperous life for the people of Punjab and to rebuilding a vibrant and flourishing ‘Rangla Punjab’.”
