No one will be allowed to disturb harmony in Punjab: Sidhu

Nobody will be allowed to disturb communal harmony in Punjab, cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said today.

"The forces which are out to disrupt the atmosphere of communal harmony in the state would not be allowed to succeed in their nefarious designs at any cost," Sidhu said here.

Sidhu, the Local Government, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, along with Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal was here to greet the Muslim community on Eid-Ul-Fitr on behalf of the Punjab government.

Manpreet exhorted the people to continue making efforts to ensure that the financially deprived sections of the society were also included in the festivities.

The Finance Minister announced a government aid of Rs 1 crore for the eidgah and said that the first budget of the Congress government has major announcements to provide every necessary facility to the Muslim community which includes Rs 3 crore for Urdu academy at Malerkotla, Rs 10 crore for graveyards in the state and benefits under various welfare schemes.

He also appealed to the people to strive for providing higher education to their children.

Sidhu announced Rs 50 lakh for eidgah from his fund and gave an assurance regarding making Malerkotla a district by the Congress government.

He also said that the promise of establishing a government medical college at Malerkotla would also be fulfilled.

He further said that the Muslim community would be accorded proper respect in the Congress government.

Calling Eid a festival of mutual brotherhood and harmony, the minister exhorted the people to ensure peaceful co- existence and devote themselves towards serving humanity.

Public Works Department Minister Razia Sultana thanked Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Finance Minister Badal for taking significant decisions concerning Muslim community in the budget.

In her greetings to the people, she said that the promise made by Amarinder to accord district status to Malerkotla would be made good soon.

She also said the festival was a symbol of peace, amity and compassion and depicts the secular culture of the state in a positive way.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)