Chandigarh- Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, stating that their policies have pushed Punjab into a severe crisis, turning the once-prosperous ‘Rangla Punjab’ into ‘Kangla Punjab’. Both parties have no concern for public welfare and are only interested in enjoying power and personal gains. Punjab has fallen far behind on the development front, and people there are deeply worried about the state’s future, he added.
This growing concern is the reason people have now made up their minds that Punjab’s development is possible only under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, while interacting with mediapersons at Haryana Niwas on Saturday.
Responding to a question, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the Congress was responsible for pushing Punjab to the margins, while the Aam Aadmi Party crossed all limits of governance. He alleged that AAP has gone even four steps ahead of the Congress in matters of public exploitation and corruption. He said that both the Congress and AAP have jointly exploited farmers for political gain.
Referring to former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister said that when Kejriwal was Delhi’s Chief Minister, he repeatedly blamed farmers of Punjab and Haryana for pollution in Delhi. However, despite the Aam Aadmi Party being in power in Punjab for the last four years, neither Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann nor Arvind Kejriwal has taken any concrete steps for the welfare of farmers. Taking a scathing dig, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini remarked, One cracks jokes, the other listens. Neither of them has any concern for farmers.
The Chief Minister said Arvind Kejriwal insulted farmers of Haryana and Punjab over the issue of stubble burning. He said that the BJP government in Haryana has put in place a proper system to resolve the stubble problem so that farmers are not forced to burn crop residue. Questioning Kejriwal, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini asked him to explain what steps have been taken for farmers in Punjab. He said farmers there have received no benefits and have only been insulted and defamed.
Referring to the recent natural disaster in Punjab, the Chief Minister said that during the floods, the Punjab Chief Minister made tall claims. He pointed out that Bhagwant Mann even publicly announced compensation for poultry losses, but nothing was actually delivered on the ground.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that while Bhagwant Mann spoke about providing compensation of Rs. 20, 000 per acre, Arvind Kejriwal later claimed in Gujarat that compensation of Rs. 50, 000 per acre had been given in Punjab. He questioned who pocketed the remaining Rs. 30, 000, highlighting the contradiction and lack of transparency.
The Chief Minister said the Congress ruled the country for 55 years but failed to do anything meaningful for farmers. He asserted that the present condition of farmers is the result of Congress policies. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, he said, the double-engine government has implemented several schemes in the interest of farmers, and the BJP government has worked to empower and strengthen them. He advised the Punjab government to focus on real work on the ground instead of making hollow statements.
Targeting both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that although the two parties claim to be political rivals, they enter into mutual understandings whenever it suits their interests.
Referring to his visits to Punjab, he said people there are now openly admitting that they were misled by false promises. Many have said they were kept in the dark, which is why they alternated between Congress and AAP in the past.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab has suffered badly due to corruption and exploitation, and in these matters, the policies of the Aam Aadmi Party are even more dangerous than those of the Congress.
Responding to questions about his frequent visits to Punjab, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that he is touring Punjab continuously while discharging his responsibilities as an ordinary worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said whatever responsibility the party assigns to him, he carries it out with full dedication and sincerity as a disciplined worker.
Replying to another question, the Chief Minister said that during the Maghi Mela at Sri Muktsar Sahib, the Congress party did not even arrange a stage to honour the Gurus, reflecting its lack of respect for religious and cultural traditions.
When asked whether the Bharatiya Janata Party would contest the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections on its own, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini clarified that the final decision will be taken by the party’s top leadership. He reiterated that his role is limited to performing the duties entrusted to him by the party, which he continues to fulfil with commitment.
The Chief Minister further said that people from Punjab frequently come to meet him at his residence. He added that visitors often return only after fixing dates for programmes, even if it takes until late at night, reflecting the growing public outreach and engagement.