Peace maintained in Punjab without firing a bullet or shedding blood, says Kejriwal 

“Sometimes, tough decisions have to be taken. But if our AAP government in Punjab under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann will have to take tough decisions, we will not hesitate from taking them. Mann saab took tough decisions, but without a bullet being fired and blood being shed, peace is maintained in the entire Punjab today,” he added.

Kejriwal and Mann were in Jalandhar, where the crackdown on Amritpal began on Saturday, to lay the foundation stone of Sri Guru Ravidas Bani Adhyayan Centre at Dera Sachkhand Ballan here. They also handed over a cheque of Rs 25 crore to the Dera Sachkhand Ballan chief as the first instalment to start the work. This comes ahead of the bypoll to Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat.  

On the issue of drugs, Kejriwal asked the people of Punjab to join hands with the AAP government in wiping out this menace.

“I am not saying that drug problem has been eradicated from the state completely but it will happen soon. When 3 crore Punjabis join hands with the government, then no drug peddler will have the courage to sell drugs,” he said.

Kejriwal said the law and order situation in the state has improved after the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. During the previous governments, their MLAs and ministers had “settings” with gangsters, mafia and criminals, he alleged. But the AAP government does not have any such “setting” with anyone, that is why gangsters and mafia are being punished, he said.

Punjab is slowly coming back on track of being ‘Rangla Punjab’, he said.

Meanwhile Mann, said the upcoming centre will go a long way in undertaking extensive research and study of the “bani” (teachings) of Guru Ravidas and propagating his teachings.

“In consonance with the path shown by Dr B R Ambedkar, the state government is according top priority to the education sector along with health, employment and others,” he said, adding his government has taken path-breaking initiatives in these sectors.

The chief minister said the Adhiyan Kendra Prabandhak Committee, to be headed by Sant Niranjan Dass, will manage its overall affairs. The committee will have the secretaries of tourism, welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, and finance departments and the deputy commissioner as members.

He expressed hope that this centre will act as a lighthouse for further perpetuating the ideology of Guru Ravidas so that future generations can seek inspiration from his teachings.