Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress of having “fooled people” in the name of religion during their decades-long alternate rule in the state. Addressing a Lok Milni event at Chandbaja village in Faridkot, Mann said both parties made false promises about securing Punjab's rightful share of river waters from neighbouring states.
Mocks Political Rivals and SGPC
Using local idioms, Mann mocked his political rivals, particularly SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia. He also took a dig at the alleged “dark past” of Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, claiming these leaders “lived like aristocrats” and knew nothing about the difficulties faced by common people.
Targeting the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Mann said its Jathedars, instead of acting as independent custodians of the Sikh faith, were speaking as the voice of Akali politicians.
Native Village Bridge and Power Promise
Mann highlighted that residents of his native village had written to successive Akali and Congress governments over three decades seeking a bridge over a drain. “No one did anything,” he said, adding that he got it built in 2014 after being elected as a Member of Parliament. He also promised farmers uninterrupted daytime power supply.
Farmers' Union Condemns Police Action
Meanwhile, the Bharati Kisan Union (Ekta-Sidhupur) strongly condemned the Chief Minister for allegedly converting Chandbaja village into a “police cantonment” ahead of the programme. The union’s district president Bohar Singh Rupianwala and other leaders were detained to prevent them from entering the venue. They had intended to raise issues of compensation for farmers whose property was damaged at the Shambhu-Khanauri border points during a year-long stir for a legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops. They also sought martyr status for Shubhkaran Singh, who allegedly died of a bullet wound during the stir at the Khanauri border point two years ago.
CM Dedicates 500 Village Gyms
In a separate event, Mann dedicated 500 modern gyms in villages, describing the initiative as a key pillar of the ongoing “Yudh Nashean Virudh” (war against drugs) campaign. Backed by a record sports budget of Rs 1,791 crore, the state government aims to establish 3,000 modern gyms in villages at a cost of nearly Rs 200 crore. “The government is also constructing 3,100 sports grounds across Punjab, of which 250 have already been handed over,” Mann said.
Pond Rejuvenation and Women's Cash Scheme
Mann also announced a drive to rejuvenate village ponds, with treated water to be channelled for agricultural use, reducing dependence on groundwater. Referring to the Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana, he said women aged 18 or above would receive Rs 1,000 per month from July 1, while those from Scheduled Castes will get Rs 1,500 per month. Nearly 97 per cent of Punjab’s women are expected to benefit from the scheme, for which Rs 9,300 crore has been earmarked.
