ZIRA -At a massive gathering in Zira, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann welcomed Gurpreet Singh Sekhon into the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) along with thousands of his supporters, saying the overwhelming public response reflects people’s growing faith in politics of performance over the empty rhetoric of traditional parties. He said the AAP Government is working day and night for Punjab’s welfare, delivering 1, 100 Mohalla Clinics, daytime power supply and canal water for farmers, while providing zero electricity bills to 90% of households.
Taking a sharp dig at the Akali Dal and Congress, the Chief Minister said the opposition has no vision for Punjab beyond abusing him, with the Akali Dal reduced to barely a handful of people despite once claiming it could rule for 25 years, while Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to unite a Congress consumed by internal conflict have yielded no results. He asserted that for him, politics is solely a means to serve the people and he is discharging that responsibility with complete honesty and commitment.
Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “At a massive gathering held in Zira today, Gurpreet Sekhonn ji joined the AAP family along with thousands of his supporters. We warmly welcome him into the party. The massive turnout of people on this occasion is a clear indication that people are fed up with the exploitation by traditional political parties and now prefer only politics of performance and development.”
“Our government has provided major relief to the common people by establishing 1, 100 Mohalla Clinics, ensuring uninterrupted daytime power supply to farmers, and making electricity bills zero for 90% of households. Our efforts for the progress and prosperity of Punjab and Punjabis will continue with the same commitment. Inquilab Zindabad, ” the post concluded.
Welcoming Gurpreet Singh Sekhonn and thousands of his supporters into the AAP, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Whenever a person enters public life with a genuine intention to serve the people, the people themselves recognise that commitment and give that person immense love and support. I warmly welcome Gurpreet Singh Sekhonn and all his supporters into the AAP family. Their joining reflects the growing faith of people in the policies and development-oriented governance of the AAP Government in Punjab.”
He said that people were increasingly moving away from traditional politics and choosing a political movement that puts public welfare and development above personal interests. “People are now looking for politics that delivers, politics that works for them and politics that remains connected with their everyday problems. The AAP is a movement of ordinary people and grassroots workers. Our politics is not about political families or inherited positions, but about serving the people and improving their lives, ” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, “For me, politics is a means to serve the people. I entered public life with the intention of working for the common man and I am carrying out this responsibility with complete honesty and dedication. I am leaving no stone unturned in serving Punjab and its people.”
The Chief Minister said, “Our government is working day and night for the welfare of the people of Punjab. We are working to ensure better healthcare, reliable facilities for farmers, quality education, improved public services and development across the state. The transformation is visible on the ground and Punjab is moving forward in every sphere.”
“Today, around 1, 100 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been established across Punjab. The objective is simple: no poor person should be deprived of healthcare merely because he cannot afford it. People should get quality healthcare close to their homes without having to bear unnecessary financial burdens, ” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
He said the AAP government has also taken significant steps to address the concerns of the farming community by providing electricity for agricultural purposes during the daytime and canal water for irrigation. “Farmers are getting electricity during the daytime for agriculture and they are also getting canal water for irrigation. This gives our farmers greater convenience and safety and can also help reduce dependence on groundwater. Our farmers are the backbone of Punjab and their welfare remains a priority for our government, ” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Every single penny of the state exchequer belongs to the people and we are using it judiciously for their welfare. More than 90% of households in Punjab are getting free electricity, while farmers are getting daytime power. People’s tax money is coming back to the people through development, schools, hospitals, roads and infrastructure.”
He said the government has provided jobs to more than 70, 000 youth without corruption, improved roads, closed toll plazas resulting in savings of ₹70 lakh daily, strengthened education and healthcare infrastructure and undertaken development works in villages. He added that 3, 100 sports stadiums were being constructed across the state to provide better opportunities to youth and help wean them away from the menace of drugs.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the government had also launched the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, under which every resident family of Punjab is being provided cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh. “The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna is a historic initiative through which every resident family of Punjab is being provided cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh. Punjab has become the first state in the country to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage. The aim is to ensure that no family has to worry about its financial condition when a loved one needs treatment, ” he said.
He further said that under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, every woman beneficiary above the age of 18 years is receiving financial assistance of ₹1, 000 for women and ₹1, 500 for SC women from July 1. He said the assistance is being directly transferred into bank accounts and women already receiving social security pensions would also be eligible. Around 97 per cent of women in Punjab are expected to benefit from the scheme, for which ₹9, 300 crore has been allocated in the budget.
Taking on the opposition parties, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Akali Dal and Congress had failed to present any constructive vision for Punjab. “The Akali Dal and Congress have no vision for Punjab apart from abusing me. They should tell the people what their vision is for employment, education, healthcare, agriculture and the economic future of Punjab. Instead of talking about these issues, they remain busy criticising me and the government, ” he said.
The Chief Minister said that the people of Punjab deserved politics based on performance and accountability rather than personal attacks. “People of Punjab can clearly distinguish between those who only make promises and those who actually work on the ground. The best answer to political criticism is development that people can see and public services that people can experience. We believe in the politics of performance and accountability, ” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Taking a sharp dig at the Akali Dal, he said that the party’s present condition was a reflection of the people’s rejection of its politics. “The Akali Dal used to claim that it had the strength to rule Punjab for 25 years. Today, it does not even have five people left for its committees. This is the power of the people and democracy. People have rejected the politics of arrogance, ” he said.
Targeting the Congress over its internal differences, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the party had been unable to overcome factionalism despite repeated efforts to bring its leaders together. “Congress itself is a victim of internal conflict. Its leaders are busy fighting among themselves for the lust of power. Rahul Gandhi has made repeated efforts to bring them together, but those efforts have not produced any meaningful result. A party whose leaders are constantly fighting among themselves cannot effectively serve the people, ” he said.
He said that Punjab needed political parties that remained focused on public issues rather than internal power struggles. “The people are watching everything. They want leaders who work for them, not leaders who remain occupied with their own internal battles. Punjab needs politics that focuses on the future of its people and not on internal fights for power, ” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the large gathering in Zira and the joining of thousands of supporters with the AAP demonstrated that people were seeking a political alternative based on performance and public service. He said the joining of Gurpreet Singh Sekhonn and his supporters would further strengthen the party organisation in the area.
“Joining a political party is not merely about occupying a position. It is about accepting the responsibility of serving society. People have placed their trust in you and you have to repay that trust through your work. I welcome everyone who has joined the AAP and urge you to remain connected with the people, listen to their problems and work at the grassroots level, ” he said.
The Chief Minister said, “Our youth have tremendous talent and energy. We want to create opportunities in Punjab so that our young people can build their future here. Development must reach every village, town and city and every section of society must benefit from it. We do not believe in politics based on caste, religion or regional divisions. We are working for every resident of Punjab.”
He said that Punjab had immense potential and could regain its leading position in the country if its resources and human talent were utilised effectively. “Punjab has always shown courage, resilience and a strong spirit of enterprise. With the collective support of the people, Punjab can regain its leading position in the country. We will continue to work with honesty, transparency and dedication and will not be distracted by political criticism, ” he said.
Calling upon AAP karyakartas to remain united and disciplined, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every worker should treat the problems of ordinary people as their own. “The strength of the AAP lies in its workers and the people. Every worker must remain united, disciplined and committed to public service. Treat the problems of ordinary people as your own and work collectively to resolve them. The trust that people have placed in us can only be repaid through consistent performance, ” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the journey of transforming Punjab is continuing and the government would keep taking decisions in the larger interest of the people. “People have given us the opportunity to serve Punjab and we are fulfilling that responsibility with complete honesty. The people have the final say in a democracy. Their trust cannot be earned through slogans; it can only be earned through consistent performance and dedicated service, ” he said.