category Regional, hoshiarpur, , tags Regional, hoshiarpur, , DW BUREAU Hoshiarpur Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday gave clarion call to the people to take a solemn pledge to wipe out the social maladies in the state on this Dussehra- the festival that marks the victory of good over evil. Addressing the gathering here during Dussehra festival organized by Sri Ram Leela Committee, the Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that more than 1.5 lakh people have converged here to celebrate this festival. Bhagwant Singh Mann asked the administration to make elaborate arrangements for ensuring that the festival is celebrated on much larger scale in coming times. He said that the venue better known as Dusshera ground must be extended larger in the coming times for which required steps must be taken. The Chief Minister said that the state government is making concerted efforts emerging Punjab as hub of medical education. He said that under construction medical college at Hoshiarpur will be operational from the coming year thereby giving a big facility to people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that likewise more developmental projects will be initiated in Hoshiarpur thus giving a complete facelift to the city. Recalling his younger days, the Chief Minister said that he used to go to Sunam for celebrating the festival of Dussehra. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is participating in this festival as a humble devotee of Lord Sri Ram and not as a chief guest. He said that the real Chief guest in this function is Lord Ram who have blessed the entire humanity since ages. The Chief Minister said that it is heartening to be a part of Hoshiarpur s Dussehra, which is popular across the globe. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is feeling blessed to be part of the Dusshera celebrations which is biggest in North India. He said that it is great that Hoshiarpur unitedly organizes one in the city adding that unfortunately this is not happening in other cities now. The Chief Minister said that the festivities of Dussehra inspire us to remain grounded, keep our anger under control and stay away from hate. He said that these three factors become the reasons for decline of even the most intelligent person. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the festivities also teach us to remain with brotherhood adding he gave a clarion call to people for eradicating the social maladies in the state for restoring its pristine glory. The Chief Minister said that this festival, which symbolize the victory of good over evil, remind us of our rich cultural heritage. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that our nation has an age old tradition of celebrating this festival which play a vanguard role in promoting goodwill, peace and communal harmony in the society besides showing us the way of ideal living to carve out an egalitarian and harmonious society. He appealed to the people to collectively celebrate this joyous occasion by rededicating themselves for promotion of peace, amity and brotherhood in the state. The Chief Minister said that all of us must rejoice this festival with full religious fervor and gaiety by rising above the parochial considerations of caste, creed and color. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these festivals give us a message of togetherness and brotherhood adding that on this day we should vow to make our state frontrunner in the country by getting rid of all the social maladies. He said that the true essence of Dussehra lies in fighting against injustice, evil and egos with love and secularism. (editor dailyworld.in)