LUDHIANA: Panchayat elections in Punjab would be held soon and women will get 50% reservation so that they can participate in the overall development of the state.This was stated by Punjab rural development and panchayats minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa on Wednesday.He was among several Congress bigwigs who had thronged Issru village near Ludhiana to commemorate the martyrdom day of Master Karnail Singh Issru, the first Punjabi martyr of 'Goa Liberation Movement'. The opportunity was used as a show of strength by the Congress and the previous SAD-BJP government was attacked for the issues ailing the state.Speaking on the occasion, Bajwa said, "Like our great martyrs fought for Independence of our country, people of our state should fight against drugs so that our state becomes free from drugs soon. Till the time people assist the state government wholeheartedly, the war against drugs cannot be won."Lashing out at the previous SAD-BJP government, forest minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said the people would come to know about the real face of the SAD-BJP combine when the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report is tabled in the Vidhan Sabha.Member of Parliament and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunil Kumar Jakhar called upon the Punjabis to reject Referendum 2020 and said, "This is the handiwork of some anti-national forces and recently held Referendum 2020 event in London has been rejected by both Punjabis and Sikhs."Jakhar also said that Aam Aadmi Party was a bunch of power-hungry people, who could go to any extent to save their own posts. Jakhar also assured the Issru residents that Punjab government would soon release a grant of Rs 1 crore for the overall development of the village.Khanna MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli urged the leaders that a memorial in memory of Shaheed Karnail Singh Issru, a sports stadium, 100% sewerage for Khanna town, upgradation of Focal Point, etc should be carried out by the state government.Earlier, all senior leaders paid floral tributes at the statue of the martyr and honoured his family members. Prominent amongst those present on this occasion included martyr's wife Charanjit Kaur.

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