ROPAR, June 9 — Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann affirmed on Monday that the people of Punjab have decisively discarded decades of political deception, privilege, and plunder in favor of transparent governance. Addressing a Lok Milni program at Badwa village in Rupnagar district, the Chief Minister asserted that the historical mandate of 2022, which ousted seven former chief ministers and their families, has successfully transitioned the state away from the politics of personal luxury toward genuine public welfare.
The Chief Minister noted that the traditional political entities, including the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Shiromani Akali Dal, lack any constructive development agenda for the state. He stated that these groups remain driven solely by vested interests and a hunger for power, rendering them unable to comprehend or tolerate the rapid progress Punjab is achieving under the Aam Aadmi Party administration.
Critiquing the performance of previous rulers, the Chief Minister maintained that earlier leaders chose to remain isolated within palatial residences, completely disconnected from the struggles of ordinary citizens. He declared:
“The Aam Aadmi Party is giving nightmares to leaders of traditional political parties who have misused power for their vested interests for decades. More than 700 farmers were martyred during the agitation against the anti-farmer laws imposed by the BJP. It is a fact that the BJP has always treated Punjab unfairly and today these parties are attempting to divide people in the name of religion for political gains.”
Turning his attention to the alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP, the Chief Minister described the partnership as an opportunistic arrangement completely devoid of shared ideology or commitment to the citizenry. He predicted the tie-up would prove to be a disaster for both factions, as voters see through the theatrics of leaders who previously traded severe allegations against one another.
The Chief Minister further detailed various citizen-centric achievements of his administration, outlining structural turnarounds across sectors:
- Agricultural Reforms: The state successfully utilized 96% of available canal water this year by laying 14,000 kilometers of pipelines and watercourses, providing uninterrupted daytime electricity to farmers for the first time in Punjab’s history. Ground water tables have consequently risen by two to four meters in several regions.
- Healthcare Infrastructure: Nearly 1,000 Aam Aadmi Clinics are functional across Punjab, catering to roughly 75,000 patients daily with 107 medicines and 47 diagnostic tests distributed free of cost.
- Comprehensive Insurance: The newly launched Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna provides cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family, marking a first-of-its-kind universal health coverage model in India that has already disbursed over ₹650 crore in free care.
- Public Safety and Amenities: The state’s dedicated Sadak Surakhiya Force has reduced highway accident fatalities by 48.10% since February last year. Additionally, the closure of multiple toll plazas is saving commuters ₹70 lakh daily.
- Social and Educational Welfare: Under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, women receive monthly financial assistances of ₹1,000 to ₹1,500, while government school infrastructure upgrades have pushed Punjab to the top rank of the National Achievement Survey.
The Chief Minister also referenced the recent passage of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026, which institutes strict punishments including life imprisonment and a ₹50 lakh fine for sacrilege. He stated that while previous leadership misused religion for narrow electoral gains, the current administration acted responsibly to safeguard religious sanctity and ensure future generations understand the gravity of such offenses.
