SANGRUR-Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday tore into the BJP-Akali Dal alliance, pointing out that the BJP is preparing to strike a deal with the Akali Dal on the condition of bringing back the three “black” farm laws, despite the deaths of 750 farmers during the protests against them. He said the Akali Dal was ready to “sell anything in Punjab” for a political chair, while asserting that Punjabis would never vote for the BJP by stepping over the bodies of their martyred farmers.
The Chief Minister also asserted the BJP is using communal divisions to secure votes and said its victory in Panjab University polls, which he claimed came with Akali Dal support, exposed the nexus between the two parties. Contrasting this politics with his government’s performance, he said Punjab was racing ahead on the development track with rapid work in schools, hospitals, electricity, water and roads.
Addressing the gathering during Lok Milni, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Akalis had always adopted an anti-Punjab stance by joining hands with forces inimical to the interests of the state. He said that the proposed Akali-BJP alliance was being stitched together solely for political gains. “Akalis are ready to join hands with the saffron party for the sake of power, despite the fact that the BJP-led government was responsible for the martyrdom of more than 700 farmers during the agitation against the draconian farm laws. This shows that the Akali leadership has no ideology left and is ready to compromise the interests of Punjab for power, ” he said.
The Chief Minister warned the people that if voted to power, the SAD-BJP alliance could once again impose draconian farm laws on farmers. He said that the leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal was “on its knees” to enter into an alliance with the BJP ahead of the state Assembly polls. “Akali-BJP alliance has no ideology and no agenda for public welfare. Its sole objective is to grab power in Punjab. The people of Punjab will not be misled by the political tantrums of these parties and will teach them a befitting lesson in the coming days, ” he said.
He said, “Punjabis will send the Akalis and BJP into political oblivion because of their sins against Punjab and its people. The massive presence of people at this Lok Milni is a clear indication that Punjabis are ready to write a new story in 2027.”
Highlighting the work undertaken by his government since assuming office in 2022, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the government had focused on holistic development and introduced reforms across power, sports, education, healthcare and other key sectors. “Today, after four-and-a-half years, I am standing before the people after fulfilling every single promise made to them and delivering all the guarantees. During the previous regimes, people lived in an atmosphere of fear and trauma, while drugs destroyed generations of Punjab’s youth, ” he said.
Taking a strong dig at the opposition, the Chief Minister said that the people of Punjab would never forgive the Congress, Akalis and BJP for what he termed their anti-Punjab policies and would consign them to political oblivion in the 2027 Vidhan Sabha polls.
He said that these traditional political parties had always protected each other’s interests while in power and used to play “musical chairs”, waiting for their turn to govern. He alleged that their mutual understanding had ensured that their misdeeds remained hidden. “Now the people have elected AAP and the broom is cleansing the political system of Punjab. The day is not far when those responsible for their sins will have to face the consequences of their actions, ” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Referring to the drug menace, the Chief Minister said that traditional political parties had inflicted irreparable damage on Punjab’s youth and that people knew who had allowed the drug trade to flourish. “Those who promoted and patronised the drug trade cannot be allowed to return to power. If these parties come back, they will once again misuse authority to exploit Punjab and its people, ” he said.
Lashing out at Akali leader Sukhbir Badal, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that he is disconnected from the ground realities of Punjab because he had spent his life in a secure environment surrounded by luxury and opulence. “Sukhbir Singh Badal is a convent-educated political leader who does not know the basic topography of Punjab but wants to rule the state. Leaving everything else aside, he cannot even differentiate between the basic crops of Punjab because he has little understanding of the basic issues faced by the people, ” he said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the Akalis had conducted a “genocide of generations” of Punjab by promoting and patronising the drug trade. He further added that official vehicles had been used for selling or distributing drugs and that religion had been exploited for political interests. “Using religion for vested political interests is an unpardonable sin. The Akali leaders mercilessly plundered the wealth of Punjab during their tenure and are now dreaming of an alliance with Delhi to loot the state again. Their interests have always been about themselves, whereas AAP is committed only to Punjab and its people, ” he said.
Taking a jibe at the infighting within the Congress, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that while Congress leaders were fighting among themselves for political power, the state government was working tirelessly for the welfare of the people. “They are squabbling among themselves for power, while we are working tirelessly to make Rangla Punjab. Our fight is for quality education, good healthcare and welfare schemes for the people. Congress leaders do not even see eye to eye with each other because their only concern is power, ” he said.
The Chief Minister said that Congress had no vision for Punjab and alleged that its only objective was to assume power and plunder the wealth of the state. He said that the Congress was a divided house that would collapse because of its internal fighting. “It is a pity that senior Congress leaders who come to Punjab claiming to unite the party’s leaders are not even aware of how to pronounce their names. Their dreams of returning to power will never be fulfilled, ” he said.
The Chief Minister said that the Congress and Akali Dal had acted as termites that ruined Punjab after Independence and caused the state to lag behind on the path of progress. “These leaders never speak against each other, but they spit venom against me every day because I have exposed them before the people. Punjabis know the anti-people stance of these parties. They have never been loyal to Punjab and its people, ” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.