Will discuss Punjab's burning issues: CM Mann on meeting Prez Murmu today

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, along with his party MLAs, departed for Delhi on Tuesday to meet President Droupadi Murmu over the recent defection of seven Rajya Sabha MPs to the BJP.

“Our struggle for the protection of Punjab's rights and interests continues unabated,” CM Mann wrote on X.

“Today, we have set out in the company of all AAP MLAs to discuss Punjab's burning issues and present the state's resounding voice before the esteemed President…Our government remains fully committed to Punjab's prosperity and the safeguarding of the rights of every section of society,” he added.

Seven AAP Rajya Sabha members -- Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Swati Maliwal and Vikramjit Sahney -- last month announced their decision to quit the AAP and join the BJP.

Except for Swati Maliwal, six other MPs represent Punjab in the Upper House.

After the defection of Rajya Sabha MPs, CM Mann announced that he will meet President Droupadi Murmu on May 5 to raise the issue of what he described as "illegal" and "unlawful defection" by seven Rajya Sabha MPs, while asserting that such "actions amount to a betrayal of the people's mandate".