Chandigarh: The Punjab BJP on Friday held a mock session of the Vidhan Sabha, termed the 'People's Assembly', and passed a "no-confidence motion" against the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government.
Mock Assembly Highlights
Presenting the motion, Punjab BJP working president and Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma launched a scathing attack on the AAP-led government for failing to release pending Dearness Allowance (DA) instalments and employee dues. He stated, "The government cares two hoots for the high court directions and has become anti-employee."
Sharma further alleged that "crucial issues like gangsterism, drug deaths and law and order collapse are not being debated." He added, "The AAP's politics is built on untruth, and its promise to make Punjab drug-free has completely failed."
Leaders' Statements
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar termed the situation in the state as the "darkest hour of democracy." He said, "The people of Punjab have already judged this government and are eager to remove it." Jakhar alleged, "The AAP leadership has turned Punjab into an ATM and is trying to extract as much as possible before leaving power." He also warned bureaucrats "working against rules," stating that "all their assets and properties are known."
Referring to financial assistance from the central government, Jakhar said, "Funds for canal water projects are entirely coming from the Centre... Punjab has received crores of rupees under the special assistance scheme from the central government."
National Leaders' Criticism
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh slammed the AAP government, saying, "Workers are getting barely a fraction of promised employment, while the government fails to utilise central schemes." He further stated, "Financial mismanagement, disregard for court directions and suppression of media voices have become hallmarks of this government."
Former chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Vijay Sampla noted, "Not a single major promise made to the Scheduled Caste community has been fulfilled."
Speaking during the session, BJP leader Iqbal Singh Lalpura emphasised, "Respect for Sikh sentiments must go beyond symbolism."
Economic Concerns
Raising economic issues, Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney, who recently switched to the BJP, said, "We are facing a paradox — unemployment on one side and lack of trained manpower on the other." He called for "a shift toward long-term development policies."
Resolutions Passed
The mock assembly also passed "condolence resolutions for over 1,600 youths who died due to drugs, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, victims of gangster violence, and those who lost their lives due to floods caused by government failure."
