Dhuri, October 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday flagged off a grand Shobha Yatra at Gandhi Basti in Dhuri to mark the Parkash Purab of Maharishi Bhagwan Valmiki Ji, calling for a society founded on equality, dignity, justice and communal harmony.
Paying obeisance to the revered sage, Mann said the teachings of Maharishi Bhagwan Valmiki Ji and the timeless message of the Ramayana continued to guide society towards truth, righteousness, compassion and respect for every human being.
He described Punjab as the sacred land of Guru Sahiban, saints and peers, asserting that hatred had no place in the state’s tradition of brotherhood and shared celebrations.
The Chief Minister also highlighted improvements in government school education, citing the rise in the number of students from Punjab’s government schools clearing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) from 80 in 2021 to 882 in the latest results.
Mann said the achievement demonstrated that children from economically disadvantaged families could compete in prestigious examinations when provided with quality education and opportunities. He pointed out that many successful students came from households where parents worked as rickshaw pullers, small shopkeepers and vegetable vendors.
“Education is the most effective instrument of social transformation,” Mann said, arguing that lasting poverty alleviation required opportunities for children to build professional careers rather than dependence on temporary financial assistance alone.
He said education could transform not just an individual student’s life but also the economic prospects of an entire family and future generations. The government, he added, was committed to strengthening public education and ensuring that poverty did not prevent children from pursuing their ambitions.
Mann also criticised previous governments over the alleged deprivation of pre-matric and post-matric scholarship funds meant for disadvantaged students. He said his government would work to protect their interests and make education an instrument of social justice.
Paying tribute to Maharishi Bhagwan Valmiki Ji, whom he described as the Adi Kavi and a foundational figure in Sanskrit literature, the Chief Minister said the sage’s teachings on morality, duty and righteous conduct remained relevant in contemporary society.
He urged people to uphold the values of equality, humanity and mutual respect, saying Punjab’s tradition of communal harmony must be preserved.
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