CM Mann gives ‘good news’ in Republic Day address; sings a song at Punjab Governor’s event

Participating in the At Home function hosted by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit at Punjabi Raj Bhawan on the occasion of Republic Day, an elated Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regaled the participants by singing Gurdas Mann’s popular song “Chhalla,” even as he announced to the audience that he was going to be a father in March.

Mann, who reached Punjab Raj Bhawan to participate in the At Home, missing it at least twice in the past owing to strained relations between him and the Governor, bowed to touch Purohit’s feet and shook hands with him.

Soon, Mann took to the stage when several artists were singing patriotic songs and started singing the famous Punjabi number by saying, “Governor Sahib, aap ne aaisa mahaul bna diya, andar ka kalakar reh nahi papa” (Governor Sahib, you created such an environment that the artist in me could not stop myself).

“Gurdas Mann Sahab and Pakistani singer Shaukat Ali Sahab have sung this famous song. You cannot give suggestions to someone you have grown up listening to. I have grown up listening to Gurdas Mann. One day I asked him permission to suggest to him that he sings ‘Chhalla.’ Governor Sahab…I suggested to him that the song refers to only sons. I told him that if someone does not have a son and has only daughters then cannot he listen to this so? So, I suggested he should replace the “puttar” word with ‘bacche.’ I am glad that Mann Sahab now sings that version of the song only.”

ਅੱਜ ਦਾ ਦਿਨ ਇਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਖ਼ਾਸ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਿ Republic Day ਹੈ… ਪੰਜਾਬ ਲਈ ਇਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਖ਼ਾਸ ਹੈ ਕਿ Republic Day ਲੈ ਕੇ ਹੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਆਏ ਨੇ…
ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਗੋਰਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਗੁਲਾਮੀ ‘ਚ ਕਿੰਨੀਆਂ ਹੀ 26 ਜਨਵਰੀਆਂ ਤੇ 15 ਅਗਸਤ ਲੰਘ ਗਏ ਸੀ… pic.twitter.com/d3vaQ8iwaS

— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) January 26, 2024

PRAISES RAM TEMPLE

Earlier in Ludhiana, Mann said that it was a matter of immense pride that Pran Pratishtha of Sri Ram had taken place at Ayodhya, adding that everyone should go there to pay their obeisance.

Commenting on Punjab’s tableaux which were rejected by the Centre for Republic Day programme at Delhi and were showcased in Ludhiana Friday, Mann said it was unfortunate that these were deliberately kept out of the Republic Day parade.

“Those who had deliberately kept Punjab’s tableau out of the parade must tell what is wrong in them,” said Mann.

According to the schedule released by Ludhiana’s district administration, the rejected tableaux will also be paraded in the entire city on Friday and Saturday for people to see.

Mann said the Union government has insulted the great martyrs including Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Udham Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Mai Bhago and others by rejecting the tableaux of the state.

The Chief Minister said that during previous regimes the youth were deprived of jobs and education so that they had to make a beeline for the political leaders. He said that this culture is being abandoned so that youth become an integral part of the progress and prosperity of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the day is not far when due to strenuous efforts of the state government, the pristine glory of Punjab is restored.

The Chief Minister said that due to all out efforts of the state government for the first time in the last 75 years canal water has reached at the tail end of the last field in the state.

ROADS TO BE MADE SAFER

Mann said that to check the fatality rate due to road accidents in the state and to streamline the movement of traffic, the state government will launch Sadak Surakhya Force on January 27 from Jalandhar. He said that the first of its kind specialised force will act to save several precious lives that are lost in road accidents daily in Punjab.

Mann said that initially 129 vehicles equipped with ultra modern gadgets will be deployed after every 30 kilometres to man the roads and these vehicles will also have a complete medical kit for providing emergency treatment to any person in need.

Mann said that Punjab has created history by purchasing Goindwal power plant owned by a private company GVK Power adding that it is named after the third Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Amar Dass. He said that for the first time this reverse trend has started that the government has purchased a private property.