Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday slammed the opposition for ‘running away’ from the Governor address as they are not able to digest the path breaking initiatives taken by the state government for the holistic development of the state and prosperity of its people.
Winding up discussion on the Governor’s address in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister said that the leaders of opposition are least bothered about the state or its people and their only aim is to grab political power by hook or crook. He said that while his government has been working tirelessly for the welfare of the farmers, the opposition have been merely shedding crocodile tears on the issues of the food growers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to their dubious role these leaders were out rightly rejected by the people of the state and now the people will teach them a befitting lesson during the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
The Chief Minister said that in the last two years the state government has taken unprecedented steps for the welfare of people. He said that the opposition is least bothered about the well being of the people or the prosperity of the people adding that these leaders are only concerned about attaining power. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that poor and regressive policies of these people had ruined the future of the state who had to do menial jobs for managing two square meals a day whereas these people had enjoyed lives on the basis of ‘gold biscuits’ smuggled by their fathers.
The Chief Minister said that in the last two years, the government had not even once said that the exchequer of the state is empty. However, he said that every single penny of the state has been used judiciously for the well being of the people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that during the last two years the state had witnessed unprecedented progress and development which these leaders are not able to digest.
The Chief Minister said that these leaders are not bothered about Aam Aadmi Clinics, Teerth Yatra Yojna, Schools of Eminence, Free Power, massive upgradation of infrastructure or other pro-people initiatives. He said that these greedy leaders are just worried about the power as they can’t live without it and are finding it difficult to survive being in opposition. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that people have elected 95% people from non political background as their MLAs in 2022 as they were fed up from the dismal performance of these leaders.
The Chief Minister said that the state government had scripted a new success story by purchasing Goindwal power plant earlier owned by a private company GVK Power Power at a cost of Rs 1080 crore. He said that for the first time a reverse trend was witnessed in the state as the government purchased a private power plant whereas in the past the state governments used to sell their assets to the favorite individuals at ‘throw away’ prices. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this thermal plant has been named after the third Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Amar Dass who had spent most of his time at Goindwal Sahib.
The Chief Minister said that most of these leaders are ‘opportunist turncoats’ who shift their allegiance as per their vested interests. He said that these leaders had never bothered about the welfare of the common man and had given preference to their own interests. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders had drained the money of Punjab to other states just for sake of appeasing their high commands thereby incurring huge loss to the state exchequer, which is not tolerable.
The Chief Minister presented a lock to the Speaker of the house and urged him to lock the gate of the Vidhan Sabha from inside so that the opposition could not go outside. He said that the opposition had fled from the house during the Governor address adding that as custodian of the house the Speaker should ensure that opposition do not run from the house. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the opposition is habitual of running from the house daily on one pretext or other which should not be allowed as it is a mockery of the august house adding that in the entire history of democracy no one would have ever given such a gift to the Speaker.
The Chief Minister said that people have not elected these leaders to run away during the proceedings of the house rather they have been elected to participate in the debates. He said that the sole motive is to save democracy in the state adding that no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the opposition had run away from the Governor’s address just because they didn't want to listen to the truth.
The Chief Minister said that the opposition used to demand long sittings of the Vidhan sabha session but now they are running away from attending it. He said that having long sessions is of no use, if the opposition has to jeopardise its sittings by staging walk outs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this escapism is the reason for the debacle of the opposition as people have rejected their attitude to run away from issues of public importance.
The Chief Minister said that running away from the core issues is in the DNA of the Congress and the state Congress is following it. Citing an example, he said that at the time when the Budget session of the country was going on the top leader of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi was wandering in Chattisgarh. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they are the most irresponsible party in the country which is least bothered about the common man.
The Chief Minister said that these leaders are envious of him because they dislike the fact that a son of a common man is now heading the state government. He said that these leaders like to flaunt their costly shawls, ornaments and others rather than going amongst the common people. Bhagwant Singh Mann dared the Congress leaders to explain that they had been elected for wasting the precious time of the august house.
The Chief Minister said that these people are disrespecting the sacrifices made by legends like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who had sacrificed their lives for bringing democracy in the country. He said that they should have opposed the state government by using the time allotted to them but they preferred to waste the time by raising slogans. Bhagwant Singh Mann assailed the Congress party for making a mockery of democracy in the state adding that in the next polls the entire party will be routed from the state.
The Chief Minister said that the Congress party is now on its knees and is daily requesting AAP to forge an alliance with it. He said that these leaders are political deadwoods who don’t have any base amongst the people and have been completely rejected by the people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that while the MLAs of AAP have been eating the biscuits made of flour since their childhood, the top leaders of Congress had gold biscuits smuggled by their fathers.
Slamming the Badal family for looting crores of Rupees from the state for personal benefits, he said that the luxury tax and others of this seven star resort was waived off to benefit them for construction of Sukhvilas Hotel. He said that it is unfortunate that Rs 108 crore rupees were waived off thereby bringing a huge loss to the state exchequer. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that originally the Metro Eco Green Resort village, Palanpur now called Sukhvilas is real Dukh Vilas for the state as it has been constructed from the blood of Punjabis.
The Chief Minister said that these leaders are blot on the democracy of the country as they even lack basic etiquettes. He said that though they have studied in convent schools, they don’t even have basic courtesy to talk with anyone as they are arrogant and power mad. Equating Navjot Singh Sidhu with a goods train that chugged from Kathua towards Punjab without a driver, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is one man show, who is not bothered about anyone.
The Chief Minister said that the Congress party is like an old model Fiat car, which cannot be updated as per the modern requirements. He said that schemes like Mukh Mantri Teerth Yatra Yojan, Aam Aadmi Clinics, Schools of Eminence, Sadak Surkahya Force and others have been introduced for the well being of people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now the medicines are being provided to the people from within the government hospitals adding that similarly quality education is being imparted in government schools of the state.
The Chief Minister said that the state is witnessing a new era as the parents are shifting their kids to the government schools from the private schools. He said that people of the state have made up their mind to give all the 13 Lok Sabha seats to the AAP so that impetus can be given to the ongoing development. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government will continue its endeavors to serve the people of Punjab zealously for carving out a Rangla Punjab.