Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday said the frustration shown by opposition parties over the announcement of 1,000 per month for women clearly reflects their fear of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) returning to power in Punjab in 2027. Addressing the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that while parties such as the Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP and Congress repeatedly betrayed the public by ignoring their election promises, the AAP Government has treated its manifesto as a sacred commitment and fulfilled every guarantee for the common people within just four years.
Highlighting the transformative impact of initiatives such as the Mukh Mantri Mavaan Dhian Yojna, free electricity, free bus travel, free treatment with 10 lakh health insurance, transparent recruitment of 63,943 youth and major investments in infrastructure and industry, Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab is firmly moving ahead on the path of development and the pace of progress will only accelerate in the coming years.
Concluding the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address moved by Talwandi Sabo MLA Professor Baljinder Kaur in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said there was a time when no one even read election manifestos because traditional parties released them merely as a formality a few days before elections. “Traditional parties used to talk about religion and caste in their manifestos, but AAP’s National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal made a historic initiative by including quality health and education for the common people in the manifesto,” he added.
The Chief Minister noted, “There was a time when manifestos were released just a few days before elections and no one even read them because traditional parties treated them as a formality. Those parties filled their manifestos with discussions on religion and caste. AAP’s National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal made a historic initiative by including quality health and education for the common people in the manifesto, after which other parties were forced to include these core sectors in their manifestos as well,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. Referring to the four-year tenure of the government, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said he was grateful to God for giving him enormous strength to serve Punjab and its people.
Highlighting the Punjab Government’s achievements in health, education, the Mukh Mantri Mavaan Dhian Yojna, Meri Rasoi scheme, Mukh Mantri Teerth Yatra scheme, canal water, industry, agriculture and other sectors, he said that the initiatives taken by the Punjab Government have transformed the lives of people. Speaking about the Mukh Mantri Mavaan Dhian Yojna, he said that after the announcement of the scheme a wave of happiness has spread across Punjab, especially among women. “After the announcement of the Mukh Mantri Mavaan Dhian Yojna, a wave of happiness has spread across Punjab, especially among women,” he said. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that registration for the scheme will begin on April 13 and all eligible beneficiaries can enrol under it.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also announced that medical colleges will be set up in LehraGaga, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala to impart quality health services to people. He said that since 2022 as many as 934 doctors have been recruited for government hospitals. He also mentioned the success of the Chief Minister Yogshala initiative aimed at carving out a healthy and prosperous Punjab.
The Chief Minister further said that the future belongs to Artificial Intelligence and teachers are being trained globally to educate students about AI. He said that farmers are now receiving electricity during the daytime for irrigation for the first time, which has transformed their lives. “Punjab farmers are getting the highest sugarcane price in the country at the rate of 416 per quintal,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Highlighting irrigation and infrastructure initiatives, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Ferozepur Feeder Canal, considered to be the lifeline of Malwa, has been renovated and a new Malwa Canal is being built for the first time since independence. Highlighting the transparent employment drive of the Punjab Government, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 63,943 government jobs have been given to youth so far without any recommendation or bribery. “Earlier, ordinary youth struggled to get government jobs because wealthy people secured them through bribery,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann further announced that on March 20 a Tata Steel manufacturing plant worth 3200 crore will be inaugurated in Ludhiana, generating employment for 4000 youth. He said that to attract industrial investment the Punjab Progressive Investment Summit will be held in Mohali from March 13 to March 15.
Targeting the Shiromani Akali Dal, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that people gave five opportunities to former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the father of Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, but instead of developing Punjab the family only developed itself. “People are well aware of their dubious character and will never forgive them for the sins against Punjab and its people,” he said.
Criticising Congress MLAs for walking out of the Assembly, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Congress will face a crushing defeat in 2027 and the situation will be such that the people of Punjab may not even elect a single MLA to sit on the opposition benches. “The Punjab Government will continue to serve the people with dedication, commitment and honesty to build the Punjab of the dreams of the martyrs. It is the bounden duty of the Punjab Government and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.