Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said here on Thursday that the emphasis of the SAD-BJP government in 2016 would continue to be on peace, communal harmony and development.

"Punjab today is the most peaceful and the fastest developing state in the country. We are committed to preserve the peace and maintain the pace of development in the years to come," he said.

The Chief Minister, in his new year statement here, noted that despite the "vicious propaganda by our opponents", the government was able to take every challenge head-on with the never-say-die Punjabi spirit.

"This resolve will mark our functioning in the new year too," he said.

"In 2015, peace and communal harmony were put under severe strain by some rejected and cynical elements who were desperate to gain political relevance by taking political advantage by creating an atmosphere of suspicion, uncertainty and bitterness," he said.

Badal noted that such elements tried to revive their "divide and rule" card during this year and did not spare even the holy Shri Guru Granth Sahib from their political opportunism and adventurism.

"But the SAD-BJP responded with vigour and commitment and successfully mobilized the Punjabis to defeat those forces and save Punjab from being pushed back into the dark era of the 1980s and 90s," he said.

Badal described the incidents of sacrilege of Shri Guru Granth Sahib as the "most painful moments of my life" and said that he was pained to see politics being played even on this extremely sensitive issue. .

Badal said that the government’s ‘War on Drugs’ showed definite results this year.

Stating that although a few stray but most unfortunate incidents, like the one in Abohar did take place, the government acted promptly and without prejudice and none of the accused was spared.

"There were in nine years about four or five incidents in all. We believe that even these incidents should never have happened. But these did not reflect the overall atmosphere in Punjab which remained peaceful and the rule of law prevailed everywhere," said Badal.

Listing the achievements of his government, the CM said that there were massive strides in every field .

"We made the state power surplus, something which our critics had described as a pipe dream. We also realized the impossible dream of putting the international airport in place. We continued free power to farmers and stepped up relief and help to the poor and dalit and other backward sections.

"We brought world class infrastructure to the state which today boasts of IIM, AIIMS and Post Graduate Institute of Horticulture Research. Punjab continues to get awards for the finest infrastructure and highest consumer purchasing power in the country," he said.

Badal said that the government was set to transform the face of the rural and urban Punjab with an unprecedented development.

He said that international agencies, including the World Bank have rated Punjab as one of the most investment friendly places in the world.