Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday tabled the 'confidence motion' after the AAP MLAs accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of running 'operation lotus' in the State. Punjab's Special Assembly Session was called after a major tiff between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and State's Governor Banwarilal Purohit. The Punjab Governor on September 25 approved a second special assembly session after bitter exchanges with the Chief Minister over his "duties". Although the special assembly session was called to discuss GST and Stuble Burning, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann presented the trust vote in order to showcase the 'unity of AAP' leaders in the State.
Addressing the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday, CM Bhagwant Mann went all guns blazing against the Congress and the BJP. The confidence motion was tabled amidst massive uproar from the opposition and 'Murdabad' chants were hurled against the Speaker for allowing the Aam Aadmi Party to table it. Seeing this, CM Bhagwant Mann called Congress a 'B team of BJP' and lashed out at the leader of the opposition Pratap Bajwa. In his address, CM Mann stated that Congress has been exposed and their backing to the BJP shows that both of them are working together to stop the ruling government. Furthermore, Mann expressed his observation and cautioned Pratap Bajwa that 'Operation Lotus' would cause more damage to him and his party. Mann went on to accuse the Congress of supporting BJP's operation lotus 'under the leadership of Pratap Bajwa'.
'AAP MLAs not for Sale' says Bhagwant Mann
Talking about 'Operation Lotus' in Punjab, Mann stated that AAP MLAs are being asked about their 'rates' over phone calls adding that 'AAP MLAs are not for sale'. Mann further said that AAP MLAs will not be sold as they have been chosen by the people. Punjab CM also revealed why he actually tabled a 'Trust Vote' in a Special Assembly dedicated to GST and stubble burning. "They tried to purchase our 'confidence' that's why we felt the need to introduce the confidence motion," said Bhagwant Mann addressing the assembly.
Mann also lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Slamming PM Modi, Mann stated that he should come to the ground and not remain on the 'top of Laal Qila (Red Fort)' in order to understand the problem of the poor. 'Promising many big things from the top of the Red Fort every year, but come down to the ground and visit the home of the poor people which we and the Aam Aadmi Party do'.
Lashing out at the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Mann took a dig over his Gujarat visit for the inauguration of a school. In fact, Mann dedicated a Ghalib Sher saying, "Hairat Hui tujhe school mein dekhkar, aiesa v kya hua tujhe schoolan yaad aa gayi". Mann stated that now the BJP has also started emulating the agenda of development after the success of AAP else they were only doing the politics of hate and religion.
ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਦਾ ਮੱਤ, ਇਹ ਤਾਂ ਆਇਆ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਪੌਣੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਕਰੋੜ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਡੇ ‘ਤੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਹੈ, ਸਾਨੂੰ ਸਾਡੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ‘ਤੇ
— AAP Punjab (@AAPPunjab) September 27, 2022
—CM @BhagwantMann pic.twitter.com/1RdmMEcvwW
'Discussion on Confidence motion on September 29'
It is pertinent to mention that discussions on the confidence motion will take place on September 29 in the Vidhan Sabha. Notably, as a protest, both Congress and BJP held a parallel Vidhan Sabha in order to protest against Mann's decision to table the confidence motion in a special assembly called for the discussion of GST and Stubble Burning.