Squarely blaming the Badals for ruining the state politically, economically and religiously, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday dared the Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal to list one of the achievements of their long misrule in the state.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister, while taking a jibe at Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, said that Badals had only worked for expanding their business without bothering about the state and its people. He said that the period from 2007-2017 was the darkest period of the state when Transport, cable, sand, drug and other mafias flexed their muscles in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann dared the Akali leader to list one of the achievements of their government during this period adding that the drug menace spread its tentacles after it was patronized by the Akali regime.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is serving Punjab and its people with full missionary zeal and these leaders are now being made to pay for their sin. He said that now the leaders responsible for the heinous crimes against the state are being put behind bars, adding that one such example was the kingpin of drugs who is lodged in Nabha Jail. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that while the incumbent state government is fighting them, traditional parties were hand in glove with them and were offering them protection.
Targeting leaders of traditional parties who supported a former Akali minister currently in Nabha jail on drug charges, the Chief Minister said that it is shocking that Congress leaders Charanjit Singh Channi, Partap Singh Bajwa, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, BJP leader Captain Amarinder Singh, and Ravneet Singh Bittu are openly speaking in his favour. He said that this exposes the collusion between traditional political parties adding that when in power, they’ve covered up each other’s wrongdoings. Bhagwant Singh Mann once again challenged them to make it clear to the people of Punjab that whether they are with the drug traffickers or against them.
The Chief Minister said that these leaders didn’t even spare the religion and plundered the money for their vested interests. He also quipped that Sukhbir is neither having knowledge of Punjab’s culture, topography, religion nor even about the basic Punjabi language. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the son of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is desperate to grab power in the state adding that he had already predicted that Akali Dal was formed in 1920 and will be eliminated in 2019.
The Chief Minister said that the rich legacy of the Akali Dal which was full of sacrifices has been now relegated to the party of drug smugglers. Likewise, he said that the Congress is a divided house with every leader desperate to occupy the chair of the Chief Minister in the state in coming times. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders have no vision for the state as they are only bothered about satiating their greed for power and vesting it by hook or crook.
The Chief Minister said that he might not be having experience of plundering the wealth of people but he has an expertise to share the sorrows of the general public and resolve their issues. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is dedicatedly working for the well being of the state and prosperity of its people. He said that some of the political leaders are not able to digest these things due to which they are repeatedly spitting baseless venom against him.
The Chief Minister said that such cheap tactics won’t deter him from serving the people of state and he will continue this noble task for the overall development of the state. He said that his predecessors had never bothered about the state or its people adding that these haughty leaders always gave pretence to their family and vested interests rather than working for the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this attitude of these leaders proved detrimental both for Punjab and its people.
The Chief Minister said that the traditional parties are envious of him because he hails from a common family. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders who believed that they have divine right to rule the state due to which they are not able to digest that a common man is running the state efficiently. He said that these leaders have befooled the people since long time but now people are not getting swayed by their misleading propaganda.
Earlier, the Chief Minister dedicated freedom fighter Jathedar Kartar Singh Darvesh Senior Secondary School, Sangrur which has been upgraded as a School of Eminence at a cost of Rs. 3.40 crore. He said that the students and teachers of this school have been provided with all the necessary equipment and facilities and various works have been carried out for the overall transformation of the school, including the construction and renovation of an auditorium hall, entrance gate, stage, park, shed, mid-day meal kitchen, workshops, laboratories, drinking water facilities, and classrooms. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this school is renowned across the world and the students who have studied here have made their mark in various fields at the global level.
The Chief Minister also dedicated the Government Nursing Training School, Sangrur to the people, which has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 7.81 crore. He said that this ultra-modern building offers a three-year GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) course and the institute is equipped with a hostel, modern laboratories, a mess with high-quality food, smart classrooms, a modern library, school bus service, and various other facilities. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that this institution will prove to be a blessing for students from rural areas, as earlier, they had to travel to Bathinda, Patiala, or other distant places to pursue nursing education.
The Chief Minister also flagged off 12 mobile cancer screening buses from World Cancer Care which will go door-to-door, conducting camps in various villages and towns to screen people and raise awareness about cancer. He lauded the Chairman of organization, Dr. Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal for organizing 350 free cancer screening and awareness camps across Punjab to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that during these camps, World Cancer Care will offer free tests including Mammography for breast cancer screening in women, Pap smear for cervical cancer, PSA test for prostate cancer in men, Oral screening for mouth and throat cancer, Bone density tests, Blood tests, and other necessary diagnostics.
The Chief Minister said that it is a historic day as a crusade against cancer has been launched in a new way by offering door to door cancer diagnostic and treatment facilities to the common man. He said that this menace had posed serious danger to the residents of the state especially those from the Malwa region adding that even a train from Bathinda to Bikaner was known as Cancer express. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed for the well being of every section of the society.
