Chandigarh: In a fresh attack on the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday claimed that the situation in the state was deteriorating rapidly and was now worse than West Bengal.
Saini's Allegations Against Punjab Government
Speaking to media after launching the auto building plan approval system, a digital platform for approving building plans for residential units under civic bodies, Saini asserted that the Bhagwant Mann government had completely failed to control the drug menace, illegal mining, and the collapsing law and order situation. He added that the people of Punjab were disillusioned with the AAP.
Saini stated that the electorate in Punjab was looking forward to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also distributed monthly instalments of social security pensions, scholarships for Scheduled Caste students, and payments under the Bhavantar Yojana.
Comparison with West Bengal
Referring to Mamata Banerjee's refusal to resign as chief minister after the West Bengal election defeat, Saini remarked, "This is a strange system the opposition has adopted; despite being voted out, they are not ready to leave the chair." He claimed that during Banerjee's tenure in West Bengal, atrocities against common people became rampant, murders occurred, and police did not even register FIRs. He alleged that Punjab was now witnessing similar conditions.
Drug Menace and Law and Order
The Haryana CM asserted that the drug menace and law and order situation in Punjab were completely beyond the government's control. He also criticized CM Mann and Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav over recent blasts in Punjab, noting that while Mann claimed ignorance, the DGP hinted at possible links with the ISI.
Saini accused the Punjab government of merely pretending to control drug trafficking and illegal mining. He further alleged that the AAP-led Punjab government was far ahead of the Congress when it came to corruption.
Future Plans for Punjab
Saini stated that once the BJP forms a government in Punjab, welfare schemes implemented in Haryana would also be introduced in Punjab. Responding to opposition objections about his frequent visits to Punjab, he said the people of Punjab invited him to their programmes and questioned why the opposition was uncomfortable with that.
Women's Schemes and Political Defections
Saini highlighted that despite AAP's promises, women in Punjab had yet to receive financial assistance. He claimed that after Haryana allocated Rs 6,500 crore for women-centric schemes in its current budget, the Punjab government hurriedly announced similar benefits in the Vidhan Sabha merely for optics, but not a single woman had received any benefit so far.
When asked about AAP Rajya Sabha MPs switching allegiance to the BJP, Saini said those parliamentarians had spoken in favour of women's dignity and supported the Women's Reservation Bill introduced by the central government. However, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann did not want that legislation to pass. The MPs who left AAP followed their conscience and freed themselves from Kejriwal's leadership, he added.
Saini further stated that several senior leaders had earlier left AAP to save themselves. Even AAP MLAs in Punjab feel suffocated within the party and are looking for an exit route, the Haryana CM claimed.
