Bathinda, Sep 23 (PTI) Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said people envious of the peace, progress, and prosperity in Punjab are spreading canards against him to derail the state’s growth.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating 30 new ‘Aam Aadmi mohalla clinics’, Mann said he was working to ensure the well-being of the state and prosperity of its people.
Mann said some political leaders were not able to digest the development in the state and were repeatedly spewing venom against him.
He said such “cheap tactics” won’t deter him from serving the people and he will continue this “noble task” for the overall development of the state.
“My predecessors never bothered about the state or its people,” he said, adding that they always worked for their families and vested interests rather than working for the state.
These leaders “misused” their position to amass huge wealth and build palaces. The walls of these palaces were high and the gates usually remained closed for the people. These leaders remained inaccessible to the people due to which they were ousted by the masses, said Mann.
The attitude of these leaders has proved detrimental to Punjab and its people, he added.
Taking a swipe at Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mann said despite remaining at the helm, the former deputy chief minister was unaware of the basic topography of the state.
Sukhbir does not even know the difference between ‘kaddu’ (pumpkin) and ‘lauki’ (bottle gourd). Such leaders fooled the public for many years but now the common man has voted its own party to power, he stated.
Due to the “pro-people” policies of the state government, a reverse trend is being witnessed in the state, said Mann.
The government has given more than 44,000 jobs to youths in a transparent manner so youngsters who had moved abroad are coming back to Punjab to get employment, added Mann.
Mann said panchayat elections in the state will be held soon and these will be contested by AAP candidates without the party symbol.
This will end “groupism” in the villages and ensure holistic development of the rural areas, said Mann.
Mann said the state government has taken the “path-breaking” decision to debar candidates from contesting the elections on party symbols in the larger public interest. PTI CHS RHL
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