Punjab Newsline | Jalandhar
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday interacted with traders, shopkeepers and business owners in Jalandhar, highlighting the Punjab Government’s achievements and commitment to addressing the concerns of the business community. During the interaction, Kejriwal said that the Bhagwant Mann-led government remains fully dedicated to supporting small traders and ensuring quick solutions to their problems through the Punjab State Traders Commission.
Describing small traders as the backbone of Punjab’s economy, Kejriwal said previous governments had largely ignored their concerns, forcing them to run from one government office to another for even basic civic issues. He stated that the Traders Commission was established to ensure that the voice of every trader reaches the highest levels of government and that their grievances are addressed efficiently and transparently.
Kejriwal emphasized that the commission works at state, district and constituency levels, collecting feedback from markets across Punjab and forwarding concerns directly to the Chief Minister’s Office. He added that issues such as damaged roads, faulty streetlights, unsafe electrical wiring, sanitation facilities and drinking water shortages are being resolved through a dedicated mechanism created by the government.
Taking aim at opposition parties, Kejriwal alleged that previous governments treated Punjab as a means of political and financial gain, while the AAP government has introduced a culture of transparency, accountability and public service. He also claimed that the state has witnessed significant improvements in governance, law and order, and efforts to curb corruption and extortion.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab has entered a new phase of development-focused governance. He highlighted several achievements of his government, including the expansion of canal water coverage from 22 percent to over 80 percent of cultivable land and the recruitment of more than 67,000 youth into government jobs on the basis of merit and without corruption.
Mann said the government is committed to creating a business-friendly environment and ensuring that traders are treated as partners in Punjab’s growth rather than as sources of revenue. He added that Punjab’s identity is rooted in progress, unity and brotherhood, and the people of the state will continue to reject divisive politics. The Chief Minister urged citizens to support the government’s vision of making Punjab one of the country’s leading states.
