Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday hit out at the BJP over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office, saying it signals that the Punjab elections will be held on time and accusing the BJP of launching its election campaign in the state through investigative agencies. Pointing to similar raids ahead of elections in Delhi, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, Mann said no amount of raids would yield “even a rupee” of corruption against his government, asserting that he had entered politics to serve Punjabis, not to loot Punjab. He added that the days of those involved in crore-rupee scams and seeking shares in buses and hotels were over.
During a press conference, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The CBI search at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office itself means that the Punjab Assembly elections will be held on time. The BJP has started preparing for the elections in Punjab and has chosen to begin its election campaign through the CBI.”
The Chief Minister pointed out, “The BJP is trying to create fear and tarnish the image of an elected government through central investigative agencies. But no matter how many raids they conduct, they will not find even a single rupee of corruption with us.”
Referring to similar actions in other states, the Chief Minister said: “The same pattern has been seen in other states around election time. Raids were conducted in Delhi, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh before elections, and now the BJP is adopting the same approach in Punjab.”
“We are neither afraid of these actions nor will we allow them to divert us from our commitment to the people of Punjab. We have entered politics to serve Punjabis, not to loot Punjab,” he affirmed.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Our politics is about giving people their rights, creating employment, strengthening public services and putting Punjab back on the path of progress. We have come into politics with a commitment to serve the people and transform the state.”
The Chief Minister said that the people of Punjab had repeatedly rejected politics based on fear and intimidation. “They can conduct raids, send agencies and create pressure, but they cannot raid the hearts of Punjabis or silence their voice. The people of Punjab will continue to stand with truth and development,” he said.
Taking a swipe at the political practices of previous governments, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said: “The era of multi-crore scams and those taking shares in buses, hotels and other businesses is over. Those days are gone when politics was used for personal enrichment. Our government is committed to transparent governance and will continue working for the welfare of ordinary Punjabis. Every decision we take is aimed at improving the lives of the people and strengthening Punjab.”
The Chief Minister said that he was not afraid of any investigation and would continue to face every challenge with courage. “I am not afraid of any investigation. We have nothing to hide. We are accountable to the people of Punjab and will continue to work for them with honesty and dedication,” he said.
“Punjab has made significant progress in recent years, and no attempt to derail the state’s development will succeed. We will continue working for Punjab and Punjabis with full commitment,” affirmed CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
