Chandigarh- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday gave detailed information about the arrangements being made by the state government for lakhs of devotees arriving from around the world to pay homage to the supreme sacrifice of the younger Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri Ji at Fatehgarh Sahib on the occasion of Shaheedi Sabha.
Giving details, the Chief Minister said that comprehensive measures have been taken for health facilities, transport, cleanliness, and security so that no devotee faces any inconvenience. He said that keeping in view the large inflow of devotees, special steps have been taken regarding healthcare facilities. Bhagwant Singh Mann informed that 20 Aam Aadmi Clinics and five dispensaries are being set up where expert doctors and staff members will be on duty adding that medicines and essential equipment have been arranged for these centers.
Referring to the supreme sacrifice of Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the younger Sahibzadas of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the Chief Minister said that their unparalleled sacrifice hardly finds any match in human history. He said that though more than three centuries have passed since this martyrdom, its emotional impact is still deeply felt by the Sikh community worldwide. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjab Government will provide free transportation for devotees within the city during Shaheedi Sabha by launching an inter-city shuttle bus service.
The Chief Minister said that during sabha 200 shuttle buses and 100 e-rickshaws will ferry devotees from parking areas to Gurdwara Sahib and other locations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that services of Google Company are being used this time for traffic management so that updated information about road traffic conditions around Fatehgarh Sahib can be available, allowing immediate alternate arrangements in case of congestion. He added that five large and sixteen smaller parking areas have been prepared for vehicle parking.
Speaking about security arrangements, the Chief Minister said that over 3, 300 police personnel will be on duty to facilitate devotees. He said that an Integrated Control Centre has been established with a helpline number 0176-3232838 for the convenience of the public. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 300 CCTV cameras are being installed at key locations to monitor anti-social elements, and drones will also keep aerial surveillance over the city.
The Chief Minister said that to ensure smooth mobile connectivity, temporary mobile towers are being installed by telecom companies. He said that a fleet of 60 ambulances and fire brigade vehicles will also remain stationed to handle any emergency. Bhagwant Singh Mann underlined that maintaining cleanliness in the city is of utmost importance adding that machinery from various districts has been deployed for this purpose, and volunteer teams will work in shifts around the clock to maintain the sacredness of the city.
The Chief Minister further announced that during the Shaheedi Sabha, the Punjab Government will organize a large blood donation camp at Fatehgarh Sahib as a service to humanity. At the same time, he warned that unauthorized blood camps will not be allowed this time and strict action will be taken against violators. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that making arrangements for the devotees during Shaheedi Sabha is the government’s foremost duty, and no effort will be spared in this noble cause.
The Chief Minister assured that the Punjab Government will extend full cooperation to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee if they require any kind of support for devotees’ comfort. Mentioning the recently issued notification declaring the inner parts of Amritsar (Walled City), Talwandi Sabo, and Sri Anandpur Sahib as Holy Cities, he said that this fulfills a long-standing demand of Sikhs worldwide. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this decision was announced during function to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, covering all three cities associated with the Takht Sahibs.
Taking a dig at the BJP Government’s poor handling of the pollution crisis in Delhi, the Chief Minister said that earlier every year, Punjab was wrongly blamed for Delhi’s pollution, even though the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Punjab currently ranges between 70 and 110, while Delhi’s stands at 500. He added that there has been a significant drop in stubble burning incidents in Punjab a fact officially recognized by the Central Government in Parliament. Bhagwant Singh Mann mocked the renaming of the MGNREGA scheme to “Viksit Bharat–Jai Ram Ji”, saying that if the BJP-led Central Government had its way, it would rename the entire country as “Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar adding that the BJP governments have already renamed several railway stations and cities, pointing out that renaming does not improve governance but only people centric decisions can bring real change.
On the occasion, the Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla were also present.