By SK.Vyas
Phagwara (Kapurthala), September 10 : Expressing concern over the excessive privatization of Education and Health sector, the Local Government Minister Punjab Navjot Singh Sidhu today gave a clarion call to people to join hands for bringing much needed reforms in Education and Health sector to ensure that large strata of society could be benefitted from it.
Addressing the gathering during a function to felicitate the Ram Leela committees from across the state organized by Sri Ram Naumi Utsav Committee here today, the Minister bemoaned that due to excessive privatization of these key sectors only a limited populace was getting the benefit from them. He said that need of the hour was to ensure that the remaining people could also get the benefits of these sectors, for which people should come forward. Sidhu said that excessive privatization of education and Health sector was proving detrimental for progress of society and need of the hour was to reverse this trend for the progress of country and prosperity of its people.
The Minister said that the need of the hour was to uphold the ethos of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood by spreading the message of love and compassion, as preached by every religion. Sidhu called upon the people to rise above the parochial considerations of caste, creed and religion to establish true ‘Ram Raj’ in the country. He said that service of the country was the actual duty of every individual because it was their real dharma. The Minister said that in democracy the people were the real king who elect their representatives through ballot.
Evoking the examples of Shaheed – e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Lala Jagat Narain and others, the Minister urged the people to follow their footsteps for serving the people. He said that these leaders rendered self-service to people and country throughout their life. However, Sidhu said nowadays few politicians were plundering the wealth through power instead of serving the people.
Recalling the immense contribution of Sri Ram Naumi Utsav Committee in religious and social field, the Minister lauded the President of Committee and Chief Editor of Hind Samachar Newspaper group Vijay Chopra for taking this initiative to bring people on a single platform. Describing Chopra as an institution, Sidhu said that he was playing a pivotal role in uniting the social fabric of the nation. He also congratulated the Committee for organizing this mega event to perpetuate the glorious legacy of Lord Sri Ram, who taught the people about what an ideal ruler, son, father, husband or person was.
In his address, Power Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh also lauded the Hind Samachar Group for serving the people with utmost zeal and dedication. He said that the group under the leadership of Mr. Vijay Kumar Chopra has played a key role in disseminating the message of the peace and brotherhood in the state. Rana Gurjeet Singh also lauded Sri Ram Naumi Utsav Committee for various philanthropic works.
Earlier, in her address former Punjab Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal also lauded the role of Sri Ram Naumi Utsav Committee led by Vijay Chopra to felicitate these organizations, who perpetuate the glorious legacy of the country by organizing Ram Leelas. She said that these Ram Leela committees were actually playing a pivotal role in connecting the youth with our centuries old golden age. Mrs. Bhattal said that it was the need of the hour not only to keep our youngsters abreast with our cultural heritage but also eradicating social maladies from our society.
In his address Lok sabha MP from Jalandhar Chaudhary Santokh Singh lauded the role played by Hind Samachar group in preserving the unity and integrity of the country. He said that Sri Ram Navmi Utsav Committee under stewardship of Vijay Kumar Chopra has played a key role in promoting the ethos of communal harmony, brotherhood and peace in the society. Chaudhary Santokh Singh also recalled the supreme sacrifices made by the group during the black days of terrorism in the state. He called on the people to follow the path shown by Lord Rama to set up an egalitarian society and Ram Raj in the country.
Cabinet Ministers of Punjab Charanjeet Singh Channi, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Sadhu Singh Dharmsot, Lok Sabha MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh, MLAs Rajinder Beri, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa andBarindermeet Singh Pahra, former Punjab Ministers Joginder Singh Mann, Avtar Henry and Jai Kishan Saini, Chairman Punjab Gau Sewa Commission Keemti Bhagat, former MLA Raj Kumar Gupta, Sub Divisional Magistrate Jyoti Bala, Superintendent of Police Parminder Singh Bhandall, President of District Congress Committee Jalandhar Daljeet Singh Ahluwalia, Congress leaders Ashok Grover, Amrit Khosla, Raj Kumar Raju, Arun Walia, Varinder Kumar Sharma and others also attended the function