BJP should introspect its governance in UP and Haryana rathar than teaching us on law and order
Baba Bakala (Amritsar), August 19-Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday lashed out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for not addressing Punjab-specific issues in Parliament ever despite seeking votes in the name of Panth always.
Presiding over a state-level function to mark the Rakhar Puniya Festival, he pointed out that the SAD party, claiming to be panthic and pro-Punjab, had never raised issues related to Punjab in Parliament. Citing an instance from December 26, 2018, when he, as a Lok Sabha member from Sangrur, had appealed to the then Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to pay homage to the younger sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on their martyrdom day. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Lok Sabha Speaker had agreed, and for the first time in the history of the Parliament, rich tributes were paid to the Sahibzadas on their martyrdom day.
The Chief Minister bemoaned that the SAD had never made any efforts to pay respects to the Sahibzadas in Parliament despite claiming to be panthic and pro-Punjab.
Mann criticized the BJP, advising the party to introspect its own governance in states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, where curfews were imposed during religious festivals, highlighting the deteriorating law and order situation. He also mentioned about the recent curfew in Nuh district of Haryana.
Taking a dig at the opposition leaders like Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa and BJP state Chief Sunil Jakhar, the Chief Minister said that following the massive defeat in the Jalandhar West by-election these leaders had gone to political oblivion. He remarked that the people of Punjab had taught a lesson to these leaders, emphasizing that there was no place for nepotism in politics, and only politicians who raise the voice of the common people could come to power.
Furthermore, Mann promised further improvements in the education and health sectors, aiming to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure in government schools and hospitals.
The Chief Minister said that 842 Aam Aadmi Clinics have already been established by the government which have treated more than 2 crore people and 95-percent of them are now healthy. He said that as many as 30 more such clinics are being set up with which people will get better health facilities near their homes.
On the occasion of the Rakhi festival, the Chief Minister congratulated women and stated that the government is taking multiple initiatives to empower women. He mentioned that the state government has worked to implement the principle of equality by appointing women officers as senior superintendents of police (SSPs) in six districts and women deputy commissioners in eight districts. Additionally, he announced that girls will be recruited as firefighters for the first time, making Punjab the first state to take this step.
The Chief Minister expressed objection to the funds being withheld by the Centre, stating that Punjab does not beg from the Centre but demands are its rights. He emphasized that Punjab collects and deposits the GST with the Centre and expects its share, and that the Centre does not do any favor to the state.
On the occasion of Rakhar Punya, Mann paid obeisance at the historical Gurdwara Nauvi Patshahji and prayed for the prosperity of all.
