Moga (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday asserted that the people of Punjab have already made up their minds to re-elect the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in 2027, saying the overwhelming public response to the government’s pro-people initiatives reflects the trust it has earned over the past four years. During a Lok Milni programme at village Charik in Moga, the Chief Minister said transformative initiatives such as free electricity for 90% of households, the ₹10 lakh Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, financial assistance for women, record expansion of canal irrigation, transparent government recruitment on merit and strengthened public healthcare have brought visible change on the ground, leaving the opposition with little political relevance in the state.
Sharing a few snippets from the Lok Milni, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated on X: “Heartfelt thanks for the immense love and overwhelming gathering at the Lok Milni programme held today in the historic village of Charik. Handed over a grant of ₹51 lakh for the development of the village. Further strengthening healthcare infrastructure, we dedicated 100 new Aam Aadmi Clinics to the people today, taking the total number of operational clinics in Punjab to 1,090.”
“Ensuring canal water reaches 88% of agricultural fields, providing zero electricity bills to 90% of households, and giving government jobs to youth purely on merit remain our top priorities. We are firmly committed to the welfare of every section of society and to building a Rangla Punjab. Inquilab Zindabad,” the post concluded.
Addressing the Lok Milni programme, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “These opposition parties are like wedding processions without a groom. Though they are squabbling for power, they do not have any one leader. The Shiromani Akali Dal has already been divided into three to four outfits, whereas the Congress leaders don’t see eye to eye with one another. These power-hungry leaders are only vying for power to plunder the wealth of the state, but the wise people of Punjab will never allow this to happen,”
Taking potshots at the Akali Dal, he said, “Sukhbir Singh Badal is a convent-educated political leader of Punjab who is not even aware of the basic topography of the state, yet wants to attain political power here. Leaving everything aside, the former Deputy Chief Minister cannot even differentiate between the state’s basic crops because he has scant knowledge of its fundamental issues.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Akalis have inflicted irreparable damage on generations of Punjab by promoting and patronising the drug trade. “These leaders not only patronised the drug trade but, according to reports, even used official vehicles to sell or distribute drugs. They have bruised the psyche of every common man by using religion for their vested interests, which is an unpardonable sin,” he said.
“They are hand in glove with forces that are inimical to the Sikh Panth and Punjab. Congress, BJP and the Akalis have joined hands against me because they are envious of the pro-people initiatives taken by my government,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said.
Highlighting the transformation in the irrigation sector by his government, the Chief Minister said the AAP Government has significantly increased the use of canal water across the state. “In 2022, the state was utilising only 22% of its canal water, but today that figure has crossed 80%. In some parts of Punjab, people saw canal water for the first time in 80 years. Earlier, people had to depend on borewells to get water, but those days are over. According to the Union Ministry’s report, Punjab’s groundwater table has risen by four metres due to the strenuous efforts of the state government,” he said.
“The state is now utilising less groundwater and more canal water. The day is not far when Punjab will touch the 100% mark. My government will not give Punjab’s water to Haryana or Rajasthan. Punjab was looted earlier, but now those days are over,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann affirmed every single penny of the state exchequer is being spent judiciously for the welfare of the people. “More than 90% of households in Punjab are getting free electricity. Today, even farmers are receiving power during the daytime, which is unprecedented. At a time when the Union Government is handing over the country’s assets to its blue-eyed friends at throwaway prices, the Punjab Government has created history by purchasing a private thermal power plant,” he said.
Calling out the Congress, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the party has neither any vision for Punjab nor any roadmap for its people. “The Congress party is on its deathbed and will be finished very soon because it has no vision for the people or the state. Its only aim is to plunder Punjab’s wealth by assuming power, but that dream will never be fulfilled. Congress is a divided house that will collapse because of its internal infighting. It is unfortunate that the top Congress leaders who come to unite these leaders squabbling for power are not even aware of how to pronounce their names,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that since assuming office in 2022, the AAP Government has ensured that around 90% of households in the state receive free electricity, while farmers are getting uninterrupted daytime power supply during the paddy season for the first time in the state’s history. “For the first time in the history of Punjab, more than eight hours of uninterrupted power supply has been provided to farm tube wells during the paddy season, that too in the daytime. The Punjab Government has laid 14,000 kilometres of pipelines and watercourses across the state to facilitate farmers in every nook and corner of Punjab,” he said.
“A total of 21,000 cusecs of water has been released through these pipelines and watercourses to cater to the irrigation needs of farmers. The water released by the Punjab Government is equivalent to the water supplied by two Bhakra canals. Farmers across the state are benefiting immensely from this initiative. Recharge points have also been created in canals and rivers to improve the groundwater table, which has risen by two to four metres,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said.
The Chief Minister said the taxpayers’ money is being utilised judiciously for the welfare of the people and is being returned to them in the form of development, better schools, hospitals and roads. “The AAP Government has closed toll plazas, thereby saving around ₹70 lakh every day for the people of the state. We are making strenuous efforts for the welfare of every section of society and leaving no stone unturned for this noble cause,” he said.
Highlighting the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, the Chief Minister said the scheme reflects the government’s commitment to honouring mothers and daughters across Punjab. “Under the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, every woman above 18 years of age from Punjab is receiving ₹1,000 per month, while women from the Scheduled Caste category receive ₹1,500 per month as financial assistance. For ordinary people, especially the poor, ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 is a significant amount. This financial assistance is a mark of respect for our mothers and daughters, and the smiles on their faces because of this scheme give me immense satisfaction,” he said.
Highlighting the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the Chief Minister said the AAP Government has launched the country’s first universal healthcare scheme that provides cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh to every resident family in the state. “Punjab is the first state in India to provide such comprehensive healthcare coverage to every resident family. This has significantly reduced the financial burden on people while ensuring quality healthcare services. This historic initiative aims to provide universal healthcare to every family in Punjab, and people have already availed cashless treatment worth more than ₹650 crore under the scheme,” he said.
The Chief Minister said Punjab is witnessing rapid progress in every sector because the government has taken path-breaking initiatives in healthcare, education, power and infrastructure. “Work on the construction of more than 49,000 kilometres of rural roads is progressing at a rapid pace and will be completed soon,” he said.
The CM further said the AAP Government has shut down 19 toll plazas across the state. “The closure of these toll plazas is saving nearly ₹64 lakh every day from the pockets of the common people. Our government has fulfilled every promise made to the people of Punjab, and Punjab has become the first state in the country to do so. The sole agenda of my government is to ensure the progress of the state and the prosperity of its people,” he said.
Speaking about employment generation, the CM said the responsibility of any government is to empower the youth and create opportunities for them to build successful lives. “Every file signed by me is aimed at benefiting the common man and the state. More than 68,000 government jobs have been provided to the youth completely on merit, without corruption or recommendation. Every decision taken by the Punjab Government is aimed at ensuring the progress of the state and the prosperity of its people,” he said.
Referring to the enactment of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, the CM said he is grateful to the Almighty for blessing him with the opportunity to bring this historic legislation. “Whenever incidents of beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji took place, the psyche of millions of people was deeply hurt. The Almighty blessed me with the wisdom and strength to bring this Bill after detailed consultations with legal experts,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said.
“The Punjab Government has drafted this Bill very carefully so that no future amendments or loopholes can weaken it. This law will act as a strong deterrent against anti-social elements indulging in such acts in future, and no one will ever dare commit this heinous crime. Earlier, people escaped punishment by claiming that their mind was disturbed or that they were mentally ill. However, if someone is truly mentally unstable, why does he target only Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji? Why does he not crash into a train engine or touch live electric wires?” he said.
The Chief Minister said they are opposing the anti-beadbi law because they know they will have to answer for the misdeeds committed in the past. “The Akalis were hand in glove with fissiparous forces that hatched conspiracies of beadbi in the past. Now these leaders have to pay for their sinister actions, which is why they and their stooges are opposing the anti-beadbi law. However, this will not deter me from working for the welfare of the people, and I will continue making every possible effort in their interest,” he said.
The Chief Minister said there is a fundamental difference between his style of governance and that of his predecessors, who remained inaccessible to the common people. “My predecessors never met ordinary people. They stepped out of their luxurious homes only after checking the temperature, whereas I am available to the people round the clock,” he said.
Launching a scathing attack on previous governments, the CM said they amassed enormous wealth by misusing public office. “These leaders illegally built huge palaces by accumulating massive wealth through the misuse of their official positions. The walls of these palatial houses were high, and their gates remained closed to the common people. They remained inaccessible to the people and were eventually shown the door by them,” he said.
Concluding his address, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated the people of Punjab have repeatedly rejected those who exploited the state for their personal interests. “The people of Punjab have shown the door to those who looted them turn by turn. These leaders fooled the people for a long time, but the wise people of the state are no longer swayed by their misleading propaganda. These arrogant politicians always took the people for granted, and ultimately the people threw them out of power. Today, these opportunist leaders are baffled because the people are no longer responding to them. Their agenda has always been confined to the welfare of their own families rather than the welfare of the people,” he said.
