Eminent people form non-political group

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25

Explaining the need for a second Green Revolution and attempting greater public awareness to help voters in making a right choice of their MLAs in the coming Vidhan Sabha elections of Punjab, leading lights from a cross-section of the intelligentsia today launched a non-political citizen awareness group, the Sanjha Sunehra Punjab, here today.

Addressing a press conference, the convener and founder of the organisation KC Singh said: “Ours is a non-political forum. From number one rank in the country for the per capita income in 1981, Punjab today has fallen to rank number 16. We need a change. For this, we will go to the people and ask them what want.”

The main issues identified by the group for immediate deliberations included farmers’ agitation against farm laws, agrarian crisis due to dependence on the rice-wheat cycle and its impact on water table, environment, low agricultural growth and deficient investment in industry, poor education, healthcare and housing facilities and lacking policing and judicial reforms, besides others.

Initiating the session, secretary, Col LJS Gill said: “The purpose of the initiative is rooted in the collective desire to encourage an open, intellectual and public discourse on issues concerning Punjab and lend a voice to the people without any political agenda.”

Prominent among others present on the occasion included Dr Ronki Ram, Maj Gen Satbir Singh (Retd), former DGP Dr DR Bhatti, Air Marshal (retd) PS Gill, Bhai Baldeep Singh, Dr Harshinder Kaur, Capt Vikram Bajwa, Arjuna Awardee Gurbir Singh Sandhu and Justice DPS Gill, besides others.