Chandigarh, Aug 28 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday hit out at the opposition parties alleging that they were opposing the welfare and development initiatives of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Mann claimed that the very schemes delivering free electricity, quality education, healthcare and development to the people are now causing pain to those who were in power for decades.
During a Lok Milni programme at Badmajra village in Mohali, he said that while governments changed repeatedly over the last 70 years, the fate of Punjab’s people remained unchanged, but his government was ensuring that public money was now being spent directly on public welfare.
He said that “the opposition’s threats to scrap welfare schemes” after returning to power would not succeed as the people of Punjab would neither give them another opportunity nor allow the schemes benefiting them to be discontinued.
Sharing a few snippets on X, Mann said, “The love and trust that I received from you at the Lok Milni in village Badmajra, Mohali, is a great source of strength for me. I have always said that a government is not meant for power, but for the health, education, employment and development of the people. Today, Punjab has witnessed a major transformation in education…” Addressing the Lok Milni in Mohali, Mann said the era of traditional parties taking turns in power and shielding each other’s misdeeds is over, as the people have now entrusted AAP with the responsibility of transforming the state. The wise people of Punjab will never forgive the Congress, Akalis and the BJP for their “anti-Punjab stance” and they will be sent to political oblivion in the 2027 Vidhan Sabha polls, he added.
He said, “These people have always safeguarded the interests of each other during their reign in power. Gone are the days when these parties used to play musical chairs and wait for their turn of power. They safeguarded each other’s interests during their days in power, due to which their misdeeds were never exposed.” The chief minister said now the people have elected AAP and the symbol of this party, the broom, is cleansing the political system of the state. “The day is not far when the Akalis will be behind bars for their sins,” he said.
Referring to the drug menace, Mann alleged that the traditional political parties had inflicted irreparable damage on Punjab’s youth… If these parties return to power, they will once again misuse authority to exploit Punjab and its people.” Lashing out at SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mann said he was not aware about the ground realities as throughout his life he had lived in a secure environment with luxuries and opulence. “He is a convent-educated political leader of Punjab who is not aware of the basic topography of the state but wants to attain political power in Punjab,” the chief minister said.
On the Akali Dal’s “efforts to revive ties with the BJP”, Mann said SAD was now “begging” for an alliance with the BJP in order to “satiate” their hunger for power.
The chief minister said that the people of Punjab would not be misled by the “political manoeuvring” of the traditional parties and would teach them a befitting lesson.
He said the Punjab Congress was facing “infighting”. Taking potshots over the “infighting”, he said, “They are squabbling for power for their vested political interests.” He alleged that the Congress has no vision for the people and the state and their only aim is to plunder the wealth of Punjab by assuming power but their dreams will never get fulfilled. The Congress party is a divided house that will collapse due to their infighting, he added.
“The Congress and Akali Dal were the termites that had ruined the state after Independence due to which Punjab lagged in the path of progress. The leaders of these parties never speak against each other but they spit venom against me daily because I have exposed them badly before people,” Mann alleged. PTI SUN KSS KSS
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