Pargat Singh gets hero’s welcome in Jalandhar

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 1

Visiting his hometown five days after getting the ministerial berth in the Punjab Cabinet and having remained busy while resolving political issues, Pargat Singh got a hero’s welcome in the city today.

The Punjab Education, Sports and NRIs Affairs Minister, Pargat Singh, was given the guard of honour at the Circuit House where Commissioner of Police Naunihal Singh, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori and SSP (Rural) Naveen Singla received him.

As the minister’s wife was was accompanying him, officials and supporters offered them bouquets. The minister’s supporters showered flower petals on him and performed bhangra on the beats of ‘dhol’. They offered him ‘laddoos’ and even cut a cake for his welcome.

Addressing those present on the occasion, the minister said two crucial sectors, education and sports, would be further revitalised as per the present needs so that youngsters could excel in both fields at the national and international level.

“Education and sports are interconnected fields through which youngsters talent could be tapped to channelise their energy in the right direction,” said the minister.

“Requisite reforms will also be undertaken in these sectors so that ultra-modern facilities could be provided to youngsters,” the minister added. A special movement would be launched in villages in the coming days to connect rural folk with sports activities, said the minister. This would act as catalyst against the drug menace, thereby initiating the creation of a healthy society, the minister added.

Recalling Punjabi diaspora’s role in state’s development, the minister called upon them to join hands with the state government in this proposed campaign to take Punjab’s development to a new scale.

Special committees would be formed to get inputs from professional and technical experts to streamline functioning of both the departments, the minister added.

Later, the minister went to Gurdwara Singh Sabha and Geeta Mandir in Model Town where ardas was performed for his welfare. Businessmen Ramesh Mittal and Nitin Kohli also welcomed him.

Minutes after Pargat’s welcome, the Forests, Wildlife and Labour Minister, Sangat Singh Gilzian, also visited Jalandhar. Representing Lubana community, he first visited the dera of Baba Kashmira at the SGL Hospital complex on Garha Road.

“I take him as my guru and have reverence for this dera,” said Gilzian. He too then received the guard of honour at the Circuit House. Earlier, Gilzian visited Dera Baba Prem Singh Murarewale at Begowal in Kapurthala. This dera, too, has a huge following of the Lubana community.

House divided: Most MLAs stay away

Reflecting clear division among the local MLAs, just two legislators Bawa Henry and Rajinder Beri, came to welcome Pargat Singh and offered him bouquets on his arrival at the city. By the time Gilzian came, Henry had already left. All other Congress MLAs, including Sushil Rinku, Chaudhary Surinder Singh and Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, stayed away from welcome functions of ministers.

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