Mohali, Nov 3 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday targeted the opposition, accusing it of indulging in a malicious campaign against him in the absence of any substantive issue and being frustrated because it cannot digest the “unprecedented” pace of development.
“I challenge these leaders to prove even a single allegation of corruption against me or quit politics. They are frustrated because they cannot digest the unprecedented pace of development and public welfare initiatives being undertaken by our government,” claimed Mann.
Lashing out at the Akali Dal and the Congress, Mann alleged that these parties collectively pushed Punjab towards “economic and social distress through their self-serving politics”.
“Leaders of these parties are now working hand in glove to defame me because they cannot accept that an ordinary person, without any political dynasty or inherited power, is working for the ordinary people of Punjab. Our answer to their allegations will always be our work, our achievements and the smiles on the faces of ordinary families,” he said, while addressing a gathering at an event here.
Mann handed over appointment letters to 801 newly recruited youth in Mohali, taking the total number of recruitments under his government to 71,777.
Asserting that every appointment had been made strictly on merit, without “cash” or “farmaish” (recommendation), he said that unlike the previous governments, where government jobs were “sold” for lakhs of rupees through money, recommendations and ‘vaddhi’ (bribe), his government had ensured transparent recruitment without a single rupee of bribe.
Challenging the opposition to point out even one instance of corruption in recruitment, Mann announced that another 600 youth would receive government jobs next week, reaffirming his government’s commitment to employment, merit and building a ‘Rangla Punjab’.
Taking a dig at the Akali Dal leadership, Mann said it captured lucrative businesses, including mining, during its tenure and “exploited” the state’s resources for personal gains.
“Those who looted Punjab for years are now preaching sermons on honesty. The people of the state have not forgotten how these leaders betrayed their trust and mortgaged the future of generations for their vested interests,” he said.
“Akali Dal (Badal) leaders once claimed that they would rule Punjab for 25 years, but today the party is struggling to find even 25 credible leaders within its own ranks,” said Mann.
The chief minister said that the opposition repeatedly levelled allegations against him and claimed that he was plundering the state exchequer.
“Every work undertaken by our government is for public welfare. The state exchequer belongs to the people of Punjab, and every penny of public money is being spent for their welfare. Unlike those who treated the state treasury as their personal property, we consider ourselves trustees of the people’s money,” he said.
Motivating the newly appointed employees to aim higher, he exhorted them to prepare for the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) examinations and aspire to become IAS (Indian Administrative Service) and IPS (Indian Police Service) officers.
“Our government is strengthening educational infrastructure and creating institutions of excellence so that children from ordinary and underprivileged families can reach the highest positions in the country’s administrative machinery,” he said.
Mann said that it was unfortunate that while his government was working to enable Punjab’s youth to become IAS and IPS officers, the previous Akali leadership talked about offering subsidies in animal husbandry.
“There is nothing wrong with animal husbandry, but the aspirations of Punjab’s youth cannot be confined to such limited horizons. The children of the state deserve opportunities to become administrators, scientists, doctors, engineers and leaders of tomorrow,” he added.
(PTI News)
