Chandigarh, May 19: The Union Government has pushed the country into an undeclared lockdown through civic restrictions and rising inflation, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stated on Monday.
Speaking to reporters in Patna, the Chief Minister claimed the central administration is actively concealing the true state of the national economy. He called for the immediate public disclosure of India’s current oil, gas, and gold reserves to establish financial transparency for citizens.
“The people of the country have the right to know the truth about the economic situation,” Mann noted. “The Centre should place complete information regarding oil, gas, and gold reserves before the public instead of concealing facts.”
The Chief Minister asserted that the central government deliberately suppressed fuel costs prior to recent state assembly elections. He maintained that rates were raised by 3 rupees per litre immediately after the polls concluded, with additional hikes expected. He further stated that officials are using international conflicts in the Gulf region as a pretext to burden ordinary citizens with inflation.
Turning to state matters, the Chief Minister addressed the upcoming Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in Punjab, scheduled to begin June 15. He affirmed that the Aam Aadmi Party has instructed its volunteers to monitor the exercise closely to prevent electoral manipulation.
“Neither genuine voters will be allowed to be removed nor fake voters will be allowed to be added in Punjab,” Mann declared.
The Chief Minister also addressed recent political shifts, referencing seven Rajya Sabha members from Punjab who joined the BJP. He noted that the party has formally updated the President regarding these developments, characterizing the situation as an distortion of democratic mandates given that the BJP holds only two assembly seats in the state.
Additionally, Mann commented on religious legislation, stating that the implementation of the Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, satisfies a global demand from the Sikh community. He asserted that the amendment establishes strict penalties to deter any desecration of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, ensuring the sanctity of the holy text is fully preserved under the law.
