Sadik (Faridkot), November 24
Hoping to change the face of Punjab, former Finance Minister of Punjab Manpreet Singh Badal today launched his ‘Jago Punjab Yatra’, giving a wake-up call to the people to think seriously of constructing a prosperous future of this agrarian state by undertaking radical reforms in the social, economic and political systems.

He set on the ‘yatra’ after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Tilla Baba Farid, named after a 12th century Sufi saint.

His campaign received a boost as former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh, an outspoken politician, Jaswant Singh Kanwal, a prominent Punjabi writer, Abhay Singh Sandhu, nephew of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, Jagbir Singh Brar and Manjinder Singh Kang, both MLAs, accompanied him.

Addressing his first public meeting of the day at Sadik, a dusty town situated 18 km from the district headquarters of Faridkot, he termed the ‘Jago Punjab’ movement a second freedom movement from social evils plaguing society.

He concentrated mainly on the glorious past of Punjab and tried to touch emotional sentiments of the people by advising them to stand on their own two feet to steer the state to new heights and regain its lost glory instead of becoming a tool in the hands of a few politicians who were exploiting them.

He said there was a need to pull out the state from ‘institutionalised corruption’ that had tarnished the image of Punjab besides preparing an agenda to increase job opportunities for the 40-lakh unemployed youth, rooting out communalism and infusing a spirit of nationalism among the people.

Adding that Punjab was once known for knowledge and prosperity, Manpreet said these days people were dying of cancer and other diseases for want of medical care. “We need to protect our land, water and air besides improving health care facilities at affordable rates,” he said. Reiterating that he will not give up his fight for poor peasants of the state, Manpreet said he was aware of the obstacles that he would have to face in the near future. “I will continue my fight for the people without looking back, hoping for a bright future,” he added.

He said, “I am not speaking against any class or caste or any individual but against the prevailing system plaguing the society, which we need to change giving an agenda- based politics for a better future.”

Former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder was of the view that winds of change were blowing in society and it was high time for right-thinking people to wake up and unite to cleanse the system.

In a frontal attack on the Badal family, Bir Devinder said the entire system in Punjab had collapsed and people were looking for a change as there was no one to listen to their grievances.

While expressing concern over the rising debt burden on the state, he said the policy makers should concentrate on framing such policies, which aim at improving the socio-economic prosperity of the state.

He said during the past couple of decades, the growth rate of Punjab had slowed down indicating some error on the part of the policy makers.

Abhay Singh Sandhu, nephew of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, said there was a need for a second freedom movement in the country as the dreams of those who steered the nation to freedom had not been fulfilled and the whole system had been hijacked by corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.

Former MLA Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, while expressing his thanks to the people for extending their support to the ‘Jago Punjab’ movement, called upon them to join hands to change the face of the state.