DINANAGAR: (Gurdaspur): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday sought fulsome support and cooperation of the people to strengthen ‘politics of work so that the state can become number one in the state.
Addressing the gathering during Sarkar Vapaar Milni here today, the Chief Minister said that the state government is working tirelessly for changing the face of the state by giving impetus to development of Punjab. He said that they are doing ‘Politics of work’, rather than indulging in mudslinging, for the welfare of the people and the growth of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said this should have been done much earlier so that people could have been benefitted from it.
The Chief Minister solicited fulsome support and cooperation of people to strengthen arms of AAP for bringing the agenda of welfare and development at the national centre stage. He said that the credit of bringing common people at the centre stage of Indian polity goes to Arvind Kejriwal adding that he has brought paradigm shift in politics by introducing value based politics by rejecting the divisive politics. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that people of Punjab should support the AAP in coming polls to ensure that its strength is enhanced at national level so that they can raise the issue of Punjab vehemently.
The Chief Minister said that the residents of the border region are the real patriots as they serve the country by all means. He said that this is not the backward region but this is the first area of the state which combats the enemies of the country in a befitting manner. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that when the terrorist attack had taken place in this town he was Member of Parliament and he had opposed the move of Government of India to demand Rs 7.5 crore for para military force.
The Chief Minister said that they had asked the Union government to deduct this amount from his MPLAD fund after which the centre government had taken this decision back. He said that it is unfortunate that the Military on rent was being sent to a state which produces the maximum number of soldiers in the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab had fought the nation’s war while preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country.
The Chief Minister slammed the opposition leaders Sukhbir Badal, Partap Bajwa, Bikram Majithia and Navjot Sidhu for ruining the state. He said that these convent educated leaders of the state can’t even pronounce Punjabi properly, which is the mother tongue of every resident of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these people had ruined the state for their vested interest and had taken every decision just to secure their family.
Taking a jibe over the Punjab Bachao yatra of Akali Dal, the Chief Minister said that the real name of this gimmick of Akali Dal is parivar bachao yatra adding he dared the Akali leaders to explain that after looting the state for 15 years, from whom they are trying to save the state from. He said that Akalis have plundered the state mercilessly besides bruising the psyche of Punjabis emotionally and patronizing several mafias in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that people are well aware of the dubious character of the Akalis and Badal family due to which their theatricals won’t work now.
The Chief Minister said that the people have not forgotten the dubious role of Akali Dal as they had allowed the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji besides patronizing the drug trade in the state. He said that the hands of Akali leadership are drenched with the blood of Punjab and Punjabis adding that people will never forgive them for these sins. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that time has come when people must teach them a lesson by routing them out during the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
Likewise, the Chief Minister said that every inch of this sacred land has the footprint of great Gurus, saint, seers, martyrs and poets. He said that Punjabis are global citizens who have proved their mettle across the globe with their hard work and dedication. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjabis have been blessed with an indomitable spirit of hard work and resilience due to which they carve out space for themselves.
Training his guns against Lok Sabha MP Sunny Deol, the Chief Minister said that in movies, the actor from bollywood crosses the border and pulls a hand pump from the earth but his performance as MP was dismal as he was not able to install a hand pump for providing pure water to people. He said that on the other hand, the Punjab government has taken several path breaking initiatives for welfare of the people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 90% households are now getting free power, more than 40, 000 youth have got government jobs, health and education facilities are being provided to people.
The Chief Minister slammed the Union government for stalling the funds under RDF and NHM thereby jeopardizing the development of the state. He said that funds worth more than Rs 8000 crore have been unfairly blocked by the Union government, which is grave injustice with the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Union government must be taught a befitting lesson by routing them out in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
The Chief Minister said that the first of its kind initiative in the form of Sarkar Vapaar Milni is aimed at ensuring the well being of the trading community. He said that this is a step forward for restoring the pristine glory of the state by giving fillip to its economic development. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the industry and trade is the backbone of the economy of every state due to which it must be given an impetus.