Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini advocated for the establishment of a “double engine government” in Punjab under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accelerate regional growth, enhance welfare schemes, and secure minimum support price for farmers. Speaking to a visiting delegation of the Namdev community from Sri Hargobindpur in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district at his official residence in Chandigarh, Saini expressed deep concern over Punjab’s current development trajectory, claiming prior and existing administrations have failed to meet public expectations.
During the interaction, the Chief Minister paid tribute to the sixth Sikh guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Singh Ji, noting that his teachings of standing against injustice and protecting vulnerable sections remain universally relevant. Saini pointed out that despite being a sacred land of spiritual gurus, Punjab has lagged behind in key infrastructure and socioeconomic metrics due to the misleading policies of the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. He claimed that the electorate in Punjab has mentally prepared to shift support toward the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming state assembly elections to align with the central government’s long-term vision.
Saini highlighted stark policy differences between Haryana and Punjab, particularly focusing on youth employment, women’s welfare, and social security. He remarked that thousands of Punjabi youths are forced to take hazardous, illegal emigration routes to find overseas employment, whereas Haryana has institutionalized the process through a dedicated Foreign Cooperation Department. This specialized department provides structured, legal overseas employment opportunities, with the state currently processing over 5,500 applications where successful candidates only need to bear their airfare expenses.
The Chief Minister heavily criticized the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government for failing to fulfill its prominent electoral promise of providing 1,000 rupees per month to women, noting that even the baseline registration process remains incomplete. In contrast, he stated that the Haryana Government allocated 5,000 crore rupees in 2025-26 and 6,500 crore rupees in 2026-27 for the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, successfully distributing 1,600 crore rupees to beneficiaries by directly transferring 2,100 rupees monthly into their bank accounts. Furthermore, he compared senior citizen financial assistance, noting Haryana provides 3,200 rupees monthly under the Old Age Samman Allowance Scheme compared to Punjab’s 1,500 rupees.
Saini assured the delegation that if the people of Punjab vote for a BJP administration, the state would guarantee total crop procurement at minimum support prices, deliver adequate financial compensation for agricultural damages, and create an industry-friendly ecosystem to curb unemployment. Members of the Namdev community delegation expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for his outreach initiative, stating that the citizens of Punjab are closely observing Haryana’s development model and are confident that the political alternative offered by the BJP will emerge significantly stronger in the upcoming polls.
