Chandigarh, October 19: 

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Deputy Speaker Sh. Jai Krishan Singh Rouri ,Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Aman Arora, Dr. Baljit Kaur, Sanjeev Arora, Dr. Balbir Singh, Lal Chand, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Harjot Singh Bains, Harbhajan Singh, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Dr. Ravjot Singh, Barinder Kumar Goyal, Hardeep Singh Mundian, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, and Mohinder Bhagat extended warm greetings to all citizens, especially Punjabis, on the joyous occasions of Diwali and Bandi Chhor Diwas. 

In a joint message issued here, the Ministers said that Diwali symbolizes the victory of truth over falsehood, righteousness over evil, and light over darkness. It reflects the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of India, celebrating universal values of goodness and harmony. 

They appealed to the people to celebrate a pollution-free, green Diwali, emphasizing that environmental protection is a shared responsibility. The Ministers noted that pollution is a serious concern affecting everyone and urged citizens to minimize the use of firecrackers and adopt eco-friendly practices during the festivities. 

On this occasion, the Ministers also prayed for the well-being and good health of the people of Punjab and hoped that the festival would further strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, and secularism across society. 

The Ministers also extended special greetings to the Sikh community on the historic occasion of Bandi Chhor Diwas, marking the day in 1612 when the sixth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, secured the release of 52 Hindu kings from Gwalior Fort, symbolizing freedom, justice, and compassion.