BALINDER SINGH PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAU Patiala, January 28 It was houseful at the auditorium of Khalsa college, the venue for the Patiala heritage festival opening ceremony. Dur[1]ing his opening address, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, the chief guest for the ceremony strongly told the youth to shun drugs and contribute to nation-building by join[1]ing the coveted profession of the armed forces. Dr Balbir Singh said that the Punjab govern[1]ment, under the leader[1]ship of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is fully committed to eradicate the drug men[1]ace and gangsterism in Punjab.

Lt Gen T S Shergill, the Chairman of the Military Literature Festival (MLF) was effusive in his appreciation for the unique initiative and cooperation of the Deputy Commissioner, Sakshi Sawhney who has set the bench[1]mark for all the Deputy Commissioners of the state to follow.

Lt Gen Shergill also expressed his grateful[1]ness to the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his approval to take the festival forward by allowing the districts and universities to carry the baton forward to further extend the outreach of the armed forces to the last rural segment.

Lt Gen Chetinder, the Vice Chairman of MLF and Lt Gen Cheema have been the major guiding force for MLF with Col PS Grewal outstandingly doing all the spade work