Nakodar (Punjab), Oct 28 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday accused the opposition parties, including the BJP and the Congress, of threatening to discontinue welfare schemes and also alleged that previous governments had used public money to serve their own interests.
Addressing a Lok Milni programme at Sarinh village in the Nakodar constituency of Jalandhar district, Mann said his government was committed to ensuring that public funds were spent on people’s welfare and that governance remained corruption-free.
He alleged that the Congress and the BJP were playing a “friendly match” with the sole aim of removing him from office, claiming that the two parties were uncomfortable with the growing empowerment of ordinary people.
“Their real problem is the rise of the common man because they cannot digest the fact that a person from an ordinary family is sitting in the chief minister’s chair,” Mann said.
The chief minister reiterated his government’s commitment to the welfare, dignity and economic empowerment of mothers and daughters across Punjab.
“Our intentions are clear, and our policies are aimed at returning public money to the people through welfare-oriented and development-driven initiatives,” he said.
Unlike previous governments that “plundered” public resources to serve their vested interests, the AAP government is ensuring that the benefits of governance reach ordinary households, he said.
“We believe that public money belongs to the people and must be spent on their welfare. On November 1, financial assistance will once again reach our mothers and sisters,” he said referring to the Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojna.
Attacking the BJP, the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), he said, “It is unfortunate that these parties are threatening to discontinue welfare schemes instead of appreciating initiatives that provide relief to ordinary families.”
“The people of Punjab will never accept attempts to deprive them of the benefits they have begun receiving. The Congress and the BJP are playing a friendly match with the sole motive of dislodging me from office,” Mann said.
The conspicuous absence of criticism of each other between these two parties exposes their political understanding and reveals their common discomfort with the growing empowerment of ordinary people, he claimed.
“Their problem is not Bhagwant Singh Mann alone. Their real problem is the rise of the common man because they cannot digest the fact that a person from an ordinary family is sitting in the Chief Minister’s chair and working relentlessly for every section of society,” said Mann.
“They want to remove me because our government has challenged the old system in which political power remained concentrated in the hands of a few influential families,” he asserted.
Referring to the 2027 Assembly elections, he said, “The overwhelming response of the people reflects their confidence in our government’s work and their aspirations for Punjab’s future. The ultimate verdict will be delivered by the people through their votes.”
Highlighting his government’s work, he stated, “In over four-and-a-half years, we have provided 70,862 government jobs to young people, purely on merit and without favouritism.
(PTI News)
