 "Pathankot (Punjab): Relief camps established for villagers evacuated from border areas after Indian army conducts surgical strikes")
Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, assured the villagers residing along the border areas, of "all the help" after they were evacuated from their homes amid apprehensions of a retaliatory attack from across the border.
He said that despite the prevailing tension in the Indo-Pak border region, farmers will be allowed to carry on with their agricultural activities.
The villages in the border areas are being evacuated in apprehension of retaliation from Pakistan to the Army's recent surgical strikes on terrorist launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Addressing a gathering during his whirlwind tour of the relief camps in Pathankot district in Punjab, Badal said the crops were as dear to the farmers as their children.
He said he had spoken to Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, in this regard who had immediately directed the Border Security Force (BSF) to allow farmers, living in the border regions, to harvest their crops. The Centre had also permitted the reaping and lifting of crops to farmers with land across the fence.
Describing the border residents of the state as "true patriots", the chief minister said that braving all the odds, these hardworking sons of the soil contributed immensely towards the development of the state and the country.
He added that these bravehearts served their motherland in the true sense by confronting the enemy everyday.
Badal said his government was "duty-bound" to extend a helping hand to these people, who were compelled to leave their homes due to the escalating tension between India and Pakistan.
The chief minister said the villages in the border regions were evacuated as per an advisory of the Centre, adding that he, along with the top brass of his government, was regularly monitoring the arrangements at the relief camps.
Praising the district and police administration for setting up the relief camps, he said every official must serve diligently to help those at the camps in this hour of crisis.
"There is no need to panic as the state government is committed to serving the bravehearts of the border region," Badal said.
During his visit to the relief camps at Barth Sahib and Bamiyaal, the chief minister interacted with the people and enquired about the arrangements.
Later, talking to reporters, he said the villages were evacuated to ensure the safety of the residents, adding that in a situation like this, the "enemy" could not be trusted as it could make "any move".
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