by M Kumar,
Chandigarh : Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Bhagwant Mann was sworn in as the Punjab chief minister on Wednesday. Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mann at the swearing-in ceremony that took place at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Punjab’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar district.
Only Mann took the oath during the ceremony. When Mann was leaving for Khatkar Kalan from Mohali earlier in the day, a few supporters showered petals on his vehicle and congratulated him. “I’m happy that my brother (Mann) is going to be the CM,” said a woman supporter.
The AAP won 92 seats in the 117-member Punjab assembly, decimating the Congress and the SAD-BSP combine.
48-year-old Mann, who took the oath in Punjabi, also delivered a brief address after the ceremony. In his first speech after becoming the chief minister, Mann assured the people of the state that his party’s government in Punjab would work to address issues such as unemployment, corruption and farmers’ plight.
“The work will start from today itself. We will not waste even a single day. We are already late by 70 years,” he said.
He promised that the condition of government schools and hospitals in the state will be improved like it has been done by the AAP government in Delhi.Like people from abroad come to see the improved schools and hospitals in Delhi, they will also come to Punjab, he said.
He touched upon the issue of youngsters of Punjab migrating to other countries in search of greener pastures.
Thanking people for attending the oath-taking ceremony in large numbers, Mann said earlier, the swearing-in ceremonies used to take place at cricket stadiums or Raj Bhawans. “Now this oath-taking ceremony is held at the village of a martyr,” he said, adding that Khatkar Kalan was not new for him as he had visited it many times.
“Bhagat Singh had dreamt of freedom and the AAP is fighting to take that freedom to the common people,” he said.
However, Bhagat Singh was concerned about who would take over the reins of the country once it got free. “His (Bhagat Singh) concern proved to be right,” said Mann, adding that those who ruled the country for 70 years did nothing.
“To love is the birthright of everyone, why not make your country your beloved,” Mann said quoting Bhagat Singh as he asked the people to “love the country’s soil”.
Expressing gratitude for the huge mandate given to the AAP, Mann said, “We are among you and we will remain like this.” He said the people of Punjab have created history. “In coming years, it will be taught in schools that people voted without any fear or greed on February 20, 2022 (Punjab election),” said Mann on the huge mandate given to the AAP.