- Mohinder Bhagat administers oath to 5443 newly elected panchayat members in Jalandhar

- Urges panchayats to work hard for carving out Rangla Punjab once again

- Says, No shortage of funds for holistic development of villages, emphasizes gram sabha meetings for public participation

Jalandhar/ Chandigarh, November 19:

   Punjab Horticulture, Freedom Fighters and Defence Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat today administered the oath of office to the newly elected panches during a district-level function at sports stadium here in village Jandiala. During the event, 5443 panches out of the newly elected 890-gram panchayats in the district were administered the oath of office by the Cabinet Minister.

    Accompanied by Punjab Safai Karamchari Commission Chairman Chandan Grewal, Chairman Punjab State Minorities Commission Abdul Bari Salmani, Chairman Punjab Agri Export Corporation Limited Mangal Singh Bassi, Chairman District Planning Committee Amritpal Singh, and Senior AAP leader Stephen Kaler, the Minister said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has set new benchmark in conducting panchayat elections in a fair and transparent manner as these panchayat elections were held without political party symbols to keep the villages away from the shadow of political factionalism. This move will further strengthen mutual brotherhood among masses.

     He appealed to newly elected panches to ensure maximum participation of people in the panchayat decision by holding gram panchayats in their respective villages to ensure transparency in development works.

    He said panchs can transform the destiny of the common man and their villages through sincerity in their duty.

     He further mentioned that 195 panchayats in the district have been elected unanimously, which has further strengthen ethos of democracy at grass route level. He extended his heartiest congratulations to these panchayat members as well. Mr. Bhagat also mentioned that Chief Minister and several ministers in the state had also begin their political career from Panchayat Elections and today they have achieved new heights. He urged the newly elected panchayat members to ensure proper utilization of funds for the development of villages, especially holding gram sabha meetings for the utmost transparency in panchayat decisions. He stated that Punjab Government was standing by them and there was no shortage of funds. He urged panchayat members to play a proactive role in keeping youngsters from drug abuse so as to make Punjab Rangla once again. The Minister highlighted path-breaking initiatives of AAP Government in the state which has further transformed governance reforms.

    Earlier, MLA Inderjit Kaur Mann congratulated the newly elected panchayat members on their oath taking ceremony. She stated that she will personally have interaction with panchayats of her assembly constituency to assist them in their operations. Senior AAP Leader, Halqa Incharge Jalandhar Cantt Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, Pawan kumar Tinu, Halqa Incharge Adampur Jeet Lal Bhatti, Halqa Incharge Shahkot Parminder Singh Pandori, Halqa Incharge Phillaur Principal Prem kumar also addressed the gathering.

    Meanwhile, District Administration Jalandhar led by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, Additional Deputy Commissioners Major Amit Mahajan, Budhiraj Singh, SDMs Amanpal Singh, and Lal Vishwas Bains welcomed the Chief Guest by presenting him a momento.