Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday took a swipe at the Congress party with a Rs 500-crore jibe, alleging that the Opposition’s politics revolves entirely around the CM’s chair.
Targeting the grand old party, Mann said the Congress remains consumed by internal power struggles.
“One day they project one leader, the next day another. Their politics revolves only around the chair. One of their own leaders has publicly admitted that it costs Rs 500 crore to become the Chief Minister in their party. The obvious question is, where will such money come from?” he asked.
Mann said such money ultimately comes from the pockets of ordinary people, adversely affecting welfare-oriented governance.
“The money will be recovered from the people. When politics becomes so expensive, it is public welfare that suffers the most,” he said.
He also took jibes at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Mann alleged that Badal remains disconnected from the realities of Punjab. “Sukhbir Singh Badal has spent his entire life surrounded by privilege and luxury. He is unfamiliar with the ground realities of Punjab but still seeks to lead the state. Despite remaining in public life for years, the former deputy chief minister lacks even a basic understanding of Punjab’s geography and agriculture. He cannot even distinguish between the state’s major crops. Yet his party continues making one baseless allegation after another against us,” he said.
The Chief Minister said attempts are now being made to defame him through politically motivated campaigns.
“Now, SGPC has ordered posters to be put up outside gurdwaras calling for my boycott. But I want to ask why no such posters were put up against the Akali Dal or Sukhbir Singh Badal when they themselves admitted responsibility for incidents of sacrilege,” said CM Bhagwant Mann.
Recalling the proceedings before Sri Akal Takht Sahib on December 2, the Chief Minister said the Akali leadership had publicly acknowledged its mistakes.
“They admitted their wrongdoing, accepted responsibility for the incidents of firing and acknowledged that orders had been issued against the sangat. When they made these admissions before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, did anyone put up posters outside gurdwaras calling for their boycott? The sangat is wise, and the people are supreme. Such actions are being taken only because they have no real issue left to raise against me,” he said.
He further added that such leaders have worked in the interests of forces inimical to Punjab and the Sikh Panth.
“The Congress, BJP and Akalis have joined hands against me because they are unable to digest the pro-people initiatives being taken by our government,” he said.