Chandigarh, January 11: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government, urging the people of Punjab to reject what he described as politics based on falsehoods and empty promises. He said the country and states need experienced, responsible and people-centric governance, stressing that politics should be a medium of service, not a tool for enjoying power.
Addressing a public gathering in Samrala in Ludhiana district, Saini said the governance model implemented in Haryana could serve as a strong foundation for good governance across the country. He called upon the people of Punjab to show the exit door to those who seek votes through lies. The Chief Minister said that if a government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is formed in Punjab, all welfare schemes currently benefiting people in Haryana would also be extended to Punjab.
The Chief Minister alleged that both the Congress government in the past and the present Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab failed to fulfil the promises made to the people. In contrast, he said, the double-engine government in Haryana had made 217 promises during the Assembly elections and fulfilled 54 of them within a year.
Questioning the Punjab government, Saini asked how much compensation had been provided for livestock losses during the recent floods in the state. He said the Haryana government had compensated farmers not only for crop damage but also for losses to animals and houses.
Taking a dig at what he called contradictory statements by AAP leaders, the Chief Minister said Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann claims compensation of ₹20,000 per acre for crop damage, while AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has stated in Gujarat that farmers were given ₹50,000 per acre. “This is a government of lies that is not working in the interest of the people,” he said.
Saini said the Haryana government had transferred ₹1,400 crore to farmers’ accounts under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana and had paid ₹15,500 crore as compensation for crop losses over the past 11 years. He challenged Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Congress leaders to disclose how much compensation they had given to farmers during their tenures.
He further criticised the Punjab government for failing to deliver on welfare promises, saying jokes cannot feed people and four years had passed without any real work on the ground. He pointed out that despite promises of ₹2,500 per month to senior citizens and ₹1,100 per month to women, no such benefits had been delivered in Punjab. In contrast, he said, Haryana provides ₹3,200 per month as old-age pension and has implemented the Lado Lakshmi scheme to provide ₹2,100 per month to women.
Highlighting agricultural support in Haryana, Saini said the state offers the highest sugarcane price of ₹415 per quintal and purchases all crops at MSP. He said ₹1.64 lakh crore had been credited to the accounts of 12 lakh farmers. He asked whether the Punjab government was ready to procure all crops at MSP.
On the issue of the VB-G Ram Ji Act, the Chief Minister criticised the Aam Aadmi Party for passing a resolution against it in the Punjab Assembly, calling the move baseless and devoid of facts or suggestions. He said the Act brought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi strengthens labourers and asked the Punjab government to explain what concrete steps it had taken for workers’ welfare.
Saini also alleged large-scale corruption in MGNREGA works in Punjab, citing social audit findings that revealed over 10,000 cases of financial irregularities across gram panchayats, with no recovery or action taken against those responsible. He said Haryana provides the highest daily wage of ₹400 to labourers and that the VB-G Ram Ji Act would further empower workers.
Raising concerns over drugs and unemployment, the Chief Minister asked the Punjab government to account for how many youths had been given jobs or freed from drug addiction over the past four years. He said Haryana had provided 34,000 government jobs in one year through a transparent process and was taking concrete steps to keep youth away from drugs.
He alleged that due to unemployment and drug abuse, Punjab’s youth were being forced to migrate abroad illegally, while the state government continued to play politics instead of finding permanent solutions. He also criticised the Mohalla Clinic model, claiming that promised facilities had failed to deliver even basic medicines.
Several BJP leaders, including state president Sunil Jakhar and Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, were present at the rally and also targeted the Punjab government during their addresses.
