Punjab Newsline | Jagraon
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday targeted Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia over a 40,000-page chargesheet filed against him, claiming that it would be difficult for him to escape the legal proceedings.
Addressing a Lok Milni program in Kamalpur village in the Jagraon area, Mann interacted with residents, listened to their grievances and highlighted his government's development and welfare initiatives. Hundreds of people attended the program.
“Yesterday, a 40,000-page chargesheet was filed against Bikram Singh Majithia. I bet he will not be able to escape now,” Mann said, taking aim at the SAD leader.
The Chief Minister also accused previous governments of damaging Punjab's image by allowing the drug menace to grow. He said the state was once known for its military personnel, giddha and bhangra but had later become associated with drugs and drug-related activities.
₹51 lakh grant for Kamalpur village
Mann announced an additional grant of ₹51 lakh for development works in Kamalpur village and handed over a cheque to the village sarpanch. He said ₹4.5 crore had already been spent on development projects in the village.
The new grant will be used for pond construction and the installation of interlocking tiles, he said.
Targeting previous Congress and Akali-BJP governments, Mann alleged that villages earlier received grants of around ₹50,000, a substantial portion of which was spent on establishing where the money had gone.
He said the present government had transferred the funds directly into the village account, allowing the sarpanch to decide development priorities in consultation with residents.
“The money belongs to the people. They pay taxes, and their money is being spent on development,” Mann said.
Women to receive financial assistance on November 1
Speaking about financial assistance for women, Mann said beneficiaries should expect messages on their mobile phones on November 1 regarding money being credited to their accounts.
He said the assistance might not make anyone wealthy, but it could help families manage everyday expenses.
Mann recalled women telling him that they had used the money to repay shopkeepers' credit or purchase bicycles for their grandchildren. He said the funds belonged to the people and were being returned to them.
Taking a dig at opposition parties criticising the scheme, he questioned how financial assistance to women could spoil their habits when, he alleged, opposition leaders had accumulated wealth without facing similar criticism.
Claims 70,600 government jobs provided
Highlighting his government's employment record, Mann said 70,600 government jobs had been provided so far without political recommendations or influence.
He urged young people to focus on education and prepare for competitive examinations, including recruitment tests for patwaris and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Mann said he wanted eligible candidates to secure jobs through merit and claimed that successful candidates received appointment offers without having to approach political leaders.
He also highlighted the state's education initiatives, claiming that the number of Punjab students who qualified for the NEET medical entrance examination rose from 80 in 2021 to 882 in 2026.
He said the increase reflected improvements in government education and would help children from ordinary families pursue medical careers.
‘Education is the key to ending poverty’
Mann said providing ration through blue or yellow cards could offer immediate relief but would not permanently eliminate poverty.
“If poverty has to be removed, children must be educated and enabled to become officers,” he said, describing this as his vision for Punjab.
He also claimed that the trend of young people moving abroad had declined and that more people were finding employment within the state. Mann said Punjabis living abroad also faced difficulties, including harsh weather and challenging living conditions.
Takes aim at Sukhbir Badal and Congress leaders
The Chief Minister also targeted SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, making sarcastic remarks about a past exchange between Sukhbir and his father, former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Mann criticised the Congress as well, comparing the party's condition to that of a 90-year-old person who needed care at home. He also took swipes at Congress leaders Charanjit Singh Channi, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Accusing opposition parties of focusing on power struggles, Mann said their leaders had frequently shifted political positions and maintained cordial relations among themselves despite publicly attacking one another.
Referring to a recent wedding attended by political leaders, he alleged that politicians socialised together while political differences had created divisions among ordinary people, with some even avoiding social gatherings because of party affiliations.
Says previous governments distanced themselves from people
Mann accused previous administrations led by Captain Amarinder Singh and Sukhbir Badal of shutting their doors to the public after coming to power.
He alleged that those leaders began reaching out to residents only when elections approached. In contrast, he said, his government remained connected with people and understood their concerns.
Defending his political career, Mann said he had not entered politics to make money and could have continued earning as an entertainer. He referred to his association with performers Binnu Dhillon and Karamjit Anmol through his Jugnu team.
“I thought laughter is meaningful only when there is a fire burning in the household stove,” Mann said, explaining why he chose public service.
He added that political power ultimately belonged to the people and credited voters for his electoral victories. Mann urged residents to remain united and participate in decisions concerning their villages' development.
