STATE TIMES NEWS
CHANDIGARH: Chandig- arh witnessed a significant interaction with members of the Punjabi diaspora in the presence of Union Minister Virendra Kumar and Tarun Chugh. Overseas Punjabis from India and abroad participated in a detailed dialogue on development and investment opportunities in Punjab. Senior BJP leaders, including Ashwani Sharma, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Manpreet Badal, Avinash Rai Khanna, Manoranjan Kalia, Subhash Sharma and Anil Sareen, were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Tarun Chugh said the Bharatiya Janata Party identifies individuals not by the colour of their passport but by their Indian roots and commitment to the motherland. He remarked that since May 26, 2014, India has established a strong global identity, emerging as one of the fastest-growing major economies with notable progress in infrastructure and defence exports.
Chugh stressed that while India has accelerated its development, Punjab must introspect. He highlighted concerns including fiscal pressures, limited large-scale investments and youth migration. Without decisive leadership and clear policy direction, he said, these challenges would persist. He advocated for a “double-engine government” to align state and central policies for faster growth, assuring NRIs of transparent governance, strong law and order, and zero tolerance towards terrorism, crime and corruption.
Union Minister Virendra Kumar described the Indian diaspora as a vital partner in national progress. He said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the government’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” aims to foster inclusive development, expressing confidence that collective efforts can restore Punjab’s growth momentum.
