Congress Workers Stage Protest in Punjab Against AAP Government's Unfulfilled Commitments
In a significant political demonstration, Congress workers from Punjab organized a protest targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The protestors vehemently accused the administration of failing to honour its pre-election promises to the citizens of the state.
Key Issues Raised During the Protest
The Congress highlighted several critical issues during the agitation. Foremost among these was the AAP's pre-poll pledge to provide Rs 1,000 per month to all women aged over 18. The party demanded that the government release this amount immediately, along with arrears covering the past four years. Additionally, protestors raised concerns about the state's escalating debt, which has reportedly crossed Rs 4 lakh crore and is projected to reach Rs 4.17 lakh crore soon.
Planned Assembly Gherao and Police Intervention
The Congress announced plans to gherao the Punjab assembly on the first day of the budget session. Party workers initially gathered outside the Punjab Congress Bhawan before marching towards the assembly complex. However, law enforcement authorities intervened, detaining the protesters before they could reach their intended destination.
Allegations of Financial Mismanagement and Diversion of Funds
Addressing the gathered workers, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring launched a scathing attack on the AAP government. He alleged that funds earmarked for Punjab's development were being diverted by the Aam Aadmi Party to finance election campaigns in other states, including Delhi, Gujarat, and Goa. Warring also criticized the government for failing to initiate major infrastructure projects while spending thousands of crores of rupees on advertisements.
Unfulfilled Promises and Governance Failures
Warring reminded the AAP administration of several unmet commitments, such as:
- Revival of the old pension scheme for government employees
- Payment of pending dearness allowance (DA)
- Claims of generating Rs 20,000 crore in revenue from sand mining
He asserted that after four years under AAP rule, the people of Punjab are now demanding accountability for these broken promises.
Concerns Over Law and Order and Public Safety
The Congress leader also expressed grave concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab. Warring alleged a significant increase in criminal activities and gangster-related incidents, stating that citizens no longer feel secure. He cited specific examples, including bomb hurling incidents and the vandalism of Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue, to underscore the collapse of public safety. Additionally, he highlighted the persistent drug menace as a major issue plaguing the state.
Support from Other Congress Leaders
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa, and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also addressed the protest gathering. They joined in criticizing what they described as the overall failure of the AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, reinforcing the party's stance against the administration's governance lapses.
