Chandigarh, March 4- 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.

 CM Condemns Opposition, Promises Voter Response

The Chief Minister wound up the discussion on the Governor’s address in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, asserting that the leaders of the opposition least care about the state or its people, focusing solely on seizing political power by any means necessary. 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 asserted that the people of the state outrightly rejected these leaders due to their dubious role, and now the people will teach them a befitting lesson during the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.”

CM: Govt’s Unprecedented Welfare

The Chief Minister said that in the last two years the state government has taken unprecedented steps for the welfare of people. “He stated that the opposition least cares about the well-being or prosperity of the people, emphasizing that these leaders only seek 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.

CM: State Funds Used Judiciously for Progress

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. “He emphasized that the state has judiciously utilized every single penny 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.

CM Blames Opponents for Neglecting Key Initiatives

The Chief Minister accused these leaders of neglecting Aam Aadmi Clinics, Teerth Yatra Yojna, Schools of Eminence, Free Power, massive infrastructure upgrades, and other pro-people initiatives. He asserted that these greedy leaders prioritize power and struggle to adapt to opposition roles, rather than serving the people. 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.

CM: State Government’s Success with Goindwal Power Plant Acquisition

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 stated that the state witnessed a reverse trend for the first time as the government purchased a private power plant, whereas in the past, state governments used to sell their assets to favored individuals at ‘throw away’ prices. Bhagwant Singh Mann mentioned that this thermal plant has been named after the third Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Amar Dass, who spent most of his time at Goindwal Sahib.

CM Calls Out Opportunistic Leaders for Neglecting Punjab’s Welfare

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.

CM Urges Speaker to Lock Vidhan Sabha Gate Against Opposition Exit

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 stated that the opposition habitually runs away from the house daily on various pretexts, asserting that such behavior should not be allowed as it mocks the august house. He added that in the entire history of democracy, no one would have ever presented such a gift to the Speaker.

CM Urges Participation in House Debates for Democracy

The Chief Minister asserted that people did not elect these leaders to run away during the proceedings of the house; rather, they elected them to participate in the debates. He emphasized that the sole motive is to save democracy in the state, adding that they will leave no stone 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.

CM Slams Opposition’s Avoidance of Vidhan Sabha Sessions

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 stated that they are the most irresponsible party in the country, least bothered about the common man.

CM Criticizes Opposition for Envy, Wasteful Tactics, and Disrespect to Democracy

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.

CM Criticizes Congress, Slams Badal Family for Corruption

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 claimed that these leaders, lacking any substantial support among the people, are political deadwoods who have been thoroughly rejected by the populace. 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.

He slammed the Badal family for looting crores of Rupees from the state for personal benefits, stating that they had luxury tax and other fees waived off for the construction of Sukhvilas Hotel, a seven-star resort. He lamented the waiver of Rs 108 crore rupees, resulting in a significant loss to the state exchequer. Bhagwant Singh Mann declared that the Metro Eco Green Resort village, formerly known as Palanpur and now called Sukhvilas, truly epitomizes a Dukh Vilas for the state, as it has been constructed from the blood of Punjabis.

CM Condemns Opposition’s Lack of Etiquette and Selfish Pursuit of Power

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. Bhagwant Singh Mann equated Navjot Singh Sidhu with a goods train chugging from Kathua towards Punjab without a driver, stating that Sidhu is a one-man show who doesn’t bother about anyone.

CM Compares Congress to Outdated Car

The Chief Minister likened the Congress party to an old model Fiat car incapable of modern updates. He highlighted the introduction of schemes such as Mukh Mantri Teerth Yatra Yojan, Aam Aadmi Clinics, Schools of Eminence, Sadak Surakhya Force, and others for the well-being of people. Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized that the government hospitals are now providing medicines to the people, and state government schools are imparting quality education.

CM: Shift to Govt. Schools Growing, AAP Gains Support in Punjab

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 declared that the people of the state have resolved to allocate all 13 Lok Sabha seats to the AAP, aiming to provide impetus 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.