Chandigarh, July 23: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab on Tuesday condemned a physical attack on a bus operating under the state government’s Mukh Mantri Teerath Yatra Scheme in Amritsar. Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab Media Incharge Baltej Pannu stated that the assault was allegedly executed by Congress workers who have grown frustrated by the widespread popularity and seamless implementation of the free pilgrimage initiative led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Police action following the unprovoked incident has led to the arrest of two individuals identified as Gurpinder Singh alias Lali and Baljit Singh Sheesha by the Amritsar Rural Police. AAP leaders declared that both suspects maintain direct links with the Congress party, while alleging that two other political affiliates attempted to pressure law enforcement officers to drop charges.
“Opposition parties are unable to digest the success of the Bhagwant Mann Government’s welfare initiatives. When the AAP government came to power, the opposition claimed it would not survive even three months. When the government completed three months, they said it would not complete a year. Today, the government is successfully completing its five-year term,” Baltej Pannu declared.
The AAP Media Incharge maintained that the opposition has consistently attempted to create public misgivings, including spreading unfounded rumors whenever Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann undergoes routine health checks. “The only reason behind this attack is that Congress cannot tolerate the appreciation people express for the Bhagwant Mann Government after returning from these pilgrimages. Every devotee who benefits from the scheme praises the government, and this has become unbearable for the Congress,” Baltej Pannu stated.
Providing context on the scale of the state initiative, AAP leader Shaminder Singh Khinda affirmed that over 3.5 lakh pilgrims have utilized the scheme to visit major religious centers, including Sri Anandpur Sahib, Mata Naina Devi Temple, and Sri Darbar Sahib. He added that expansion plans are underway to include upcoming routes to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura, Vrindavan, Khatu Shyam, and Salasar Dham.
“The Mukh Mantri Teerath Yatra Scheme was launched to fulfil the wishes of such people. The scheme has continued uninterrupted since its launch and has not remained suspended even for a single day. Despite lakhs of beneficiaries, not a single complaint has been reported regarding the arrangements,” Shaminder Singh Khinda asserted.
