SEECHEWAL -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 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.”
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’.”