Sangrur, Apr 2 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday slammed the BJP leaders for criticising his government for the blast incident outside the party headquarters in Chandigarh, asking them to refrain from making “absurd” statements as the area was under the jurisdiction of the Administrator of the Union territory.
Mann reiterated that he was blamed by the BJP for anything that happens in Chandigarh.
He was speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of dedicating a Community Health Centre at Cheema village here.
Asked about the blast outside the Punjab BJP office in Chandigarh, the chief minister said, “Chandigarh is a Union territory. The (Punjab) governor is the administrator of the Union territory of Chandigarh.” “For everything that happens in the Union territory, right from farmers’ agitation, agitation in Panjab University (PU), to violence or any extortion call, the BJP blames me,” he said.
“When Mann says give Chandigarh to Punjab as it is our capital, then Mann is called a traitor,” the chief minister said.
The BJP should refrain from making “absurd” statements on this issue, he added.
The blast occurred around 5 pm on Wednesday when a suspected crude explosive device was hurled near the BJP office in Chandigarh, officials said. No casualties were reported, but the explosion triggered panic in the area.
The BJP leaders criticised Mann over the law and situation in Punjab and linked the blast to a series of grenade attacks outside police stations and other incidents in the state.
Replying to a question on AAP replacing MP Raghav Chadha with MP Ashok Mittal as the party’s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, Mann said it is the party’s decision.
Opposing the Congress-led Himachal government’s decision on the hike in entry tax on vehicles from other states, the chief minister said, “On one hand, the AAP government is abolishing the toll tax and giving reprieve to the common man, while on the other hand, these people are levying undue taxes on people.” This move is totally unwarranted and undesirable, and will not be tolerated at any cost, he said. It will be opposed tooth and nail, he added.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to farmers, Mann underscored that Punjab will continue to strongly take up the demands of ‘Arthiyas’ (commission agents) with the Union government, ensuring seamless procurement and standing firmly with the farming community.
“I will flag the genuine demands of the Arthiyas with the Union government, as all their demands pertain to the government of India (GOI),” he said.
These issues have been repeatedly raised with the Centre and will again be put up before the Union government, the chief minister added.
The AAP government is firmly committed to ensuring smooth and hassle-free procurement for benefitting the farmers, he said to a question on ‘Arthiyas’ who went on a strike, seeking 2.5 per cent commission of the minimum support price. PTI CHS OZ OZ
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