A fresh political controversy erupted on Thursday after Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu launched a sharp attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Bittu accused the Chief Minister of insulting the nation's hardworking people following Mann's remarks mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's background of selling tea.
The Spark: CM Mann's Jibe at a Public Gathering
The row began when Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while addressing a gathering organized in the name of small traders and shopkeepers, took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mann mocked the PM's often-cited humble beginnings of selling tea at a railway station. Although he did not name the specific station, the Chief Minister claimed that no railway lines existed in that area during the time when PM Modi was growing up.
The event was also attended by Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who was seated alongside Mann during the address.
Bittu's Furious Rebuttal with Historical Evidence
Reacting strongly to the comment, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu held a press conference and labeled Mann's statement as an "illogical" attempt to mislead the public. Expressing shock that a Chief Minister of a state like Punjab would make such claims, Bittu asserted, "People are not fools; the people of Punjab are educated."
To counter the claim factually, Bittu presented what he described as conclusive evidence from official records. He referred to a government-published book from the year 1920 on the history of Indian Railways. "I will even send you the complete history of Indian Railways," Bittu challenged Mann.
He directed attention to page 29 of this historical document, which clearly states that the railway link from Mahesana to Vadnagar—the town associated with PM Modi's childhood—was established and operational in the year 1887. This was decades before the period referenced in the political jibe.
Accusation of Insult and Demand for Accountability
Bittu did not stop at merely correcting the factual inaccuracy. He framed the Chief Minister's remark as a grave insult to the very community he purported to represent. "By telling such a big lie, you insulted the hardworking people you pretended to speak for," Bittu stated emphatically.
The Union Minister demanded a "proper answer" from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for what he characterized as a deliberate falsehood. The confrontation highlights the ongoing and often bitter political exchanges between the ruling BJP at the Centre and the AAP government in Punjab.
This incident underscores how historical narratives and personal backgrounds continue to be potent flashpoints in India's political discourse, with both sides leveraging records and rhetoric to score points and shape public perception.
