Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann addressed a large gathering at a “Lok Milni” event in Ghogra, within the Dasuya constituency of Hoshiarpur district, on Sunday. During his speech, the Chief Minister delivered a firm message to the opposition, asserting that as long as the Aam Aadmi Party remains in power, the residents of Punjab—particularly women—will continue to benefit from essential welfare programmes. He guaranteed that the “Sanmaan Raashi” financial aid and the provision of 24×7 free electricity are permanent fixtures of his administration’s commitment to the public. Mann highlighted that his government prioritizes spending taxpayer money directly on the people, contrasting this with previous regimes where he alleged public funds were diverted into the pockets of political leaders.
A significant portion of the Chief Minister’s address focused on the newly passed Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026. This legislation stipulates life imprisonment as the punishment for the sacrilege of the holy scripture, a move Mann described as a historic necessity that previous governments failed to enact due to a lack of honest intention. He claimed that this Act effectively closes a dark chapter of sacrilege in the province’s history, ensuring that no individual would dare to commit such a heinous crime again. Mann stated that the protection of the holy granth is a sacred duty and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to pass such a deterrent law.
Launching a scathing attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Chief Minister accused the party of patronizing the drug trade and “genocide of several generations” during their tenure. He dismissed the Akali Dal’s “Punjab Bachao Yatra” as a “Parivar Bachao Yatra,” arguing that the party is merely attempting to save its own political dynasty after years of alleged misrule. Mann further criticized the historical record of the Badal family, alleging they acted as stooges for British interests and even feted the perpetrator of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He remarked that such “dubious characters” are etched in history and cannot be wiped out by modern political theatrics.
The Chief Minister also took aim at the Congress party, describing it as a “divided house” with an excess of leaders aspiring for the top post but few workers on the ground. Using a metaphorical “three pens” comparison, he labelled the Congress as a red pen symbolizing past violence and anti-Sikh stances, and the Akali Dal as a pen associated with desecration. In contrast, he presented the Aam Aadmi Party as the pen of transformation, focused on building a “Rangla Punjab” through infrastructure, education, and healthcare. He noted that over 65,000 jobs have been provided to the youth based on merit, and 90 per cent of households are now receiving zero-cost electricity bills.
Focusing on healthcare and social security, Mann discussed the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, which provides health cards to 65 lakh families, offering free treatment up to $10 lakh. He reported that over 1.65 lakh people have already benefited from this scheme. Furthermore, he highlighted the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, which provides monthly financial assistance to women over the age of 18. The Chief Minister concluded by emphasizing that education remains the key to eradicating poverty, vowing to continue his field visits to gather direct feedback from citizens to ensure governance remains focused on the common man rather than the elite.
