Samaadh Bhai /Moga--    Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today impressed upon the religious leaders in the state to play a proactive role in eliminating the social evils prevalent in the society. Addressing a religious congregation after paying obeisance at Nanaksar Thaat here today, the Chief Minister said that the spiritual leaders could play a vanguard role in curbing the menace of drugs besides other social maladies in the state by making the people aware about them.  He said that it was the need of the hour that the ‘Sant Samaj’ and the spiritual leaders should make all out efforts for preaching the tenets of Sikhism, which could play a pivotal role in curbing social evils that had plagued the society. Mr Badal also impressed upon the people to follow footsteps of our great Gurus who preached us to serve the mankind with utmost dedication and devotion. 

Lauding the enormous contribution of Nanaksar sect in spreading Sikhism, the Chief Minister also recalled the valuable contribution of the sect in the social and religious fields. Mr. Badal said that the Nanaksar sect had played a key role in preaching the tenets of Sikhism on one hand and undertaking several philanthropic works for serving the mankind on the other adding that the sect had always propagated the message of universal love and brotherhood amongst the people. The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLA Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh, former MLA Mr. Ajit Singh Shaant and his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema.

Earlier the Chief Minister held a detailed meeting with the MPs, MLAs, former MLAs, Zila Parishad Members and other public representatives of Moga, Faridkot and Ferozepur districts at District Administrative Complex in Moga to elicit the participation of the people from all the strata of society in a state level function to lay down the foundation stone of the civil works of the world class historical monument cum Temple with inbuilt Museum and Panorama at Sri Valmiki Ashram (Ram Tirath) near Amritsar on the auspicious occasion of Bhagwan Valmiki Jayanti on October 18. Mr. Badal said that it was a matter of great pride and honor for the state government to offer humble tributes to Bhagwan Vailmki Maharaj Ji by developing this site, where the 'Maharishi' had propagated the concept of egalitarian society by composing the legendary epic ‘Ramyana'. Exhorting the people from all the sections of society to participate in this function, he said that this would be the real tribute to Maharishi Valmiki Ji Maharaj.

Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Lok Sabha MP Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Mantar Singh Brar, MLAs Mr. Joginder Pal Jain, Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh, Mrs. Rajwinder Kaur and Mr. Joginder Singh, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema besides senior officers of Civil and Police administration.