Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann launched a sharp attack on the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday, accusing them of attempting to drag the state's youth back to what he called the "Mesozoic or Dinosaur era." The CM made these remarks in Patiala, contrasting his government's efforts to prepare youth for the future with the alleged regressive politics of the Akali Dal.
From Political Jibe to Social Media Meme Fest
The Chief Minister's dinosaur analogy was a continuation of his earlier jibe where he stated that dinosaurs could return from extinction, but the SAD could not make a political comeback. This comment had previously ignited a wave of memes and discussions across social media platforms. On Sunday, Mann intensified his criticism by directly blaming the Akali Dal for the drug menace in Punjab. He accused the party of ruining the youth by "introducing drugs in the state."
Government's Focus on Education and Development
Shifting to his administration's initiatives, CM Mann highlighted a significant milestone in government schools. He revealed that a staggering 23.3 lakh parents had participated in recent mega parent-teacher meetings (PTMs). The CM described this unprecedented participation as a "very good sign" and a paradigm shift, noting that such PTMs were traditionally a regular feature only in private schools but had been missing in government institutions.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister held a review meeting with panchayat representatives from the Dhuri assembly constituency to assess the progress of various development projects. Addressing the elected representatives, he urged them to deeply understand the issues of their villages and work diligently to resolve them. He emphasized the optimal utilization of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to ensure employment for the needy and the efficient completion of development works.
Call for Non-Partisan Village Development
CM Mann instructed the sarpanches to carry out development works on a strict priority basis and ensure there are no public complaints. He exhorted sarpanches, panchayats, and the newly elected members of the panchayat samiti and zila parishad to rise above party politics and concentrate solely on development. He stated that the Punjab government's primary objective is to provide every village with urban-level facilities.
Earlier, the Chief Minister congratulated the newly elected members of the zila parishads and block committees. He informed them that their oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for the first week of January, which will be followed by training sessions at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration. These sessions will educate them about their official duties and responsibilities.
