Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today slammed the Opposition, ridiculing the Congress leaders for their unending race for upmanship and accusing the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of adopting a double standard over the anti-sacrilege law.

Addressing a rally in Mukerian, CM Mann said the Congress leaders staking claim to the CM’s post should first prove their strength by winning at least 60 Assembly seats. “Where will they get so many seats from?” he asked.

Referring to the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s proposed Punjab tour, he said, “The Congress leadership claims that all its leaders will embark on a bus journey, which will be flagged off by Rahul. They may go together, but they certainly will not return together because everyone will be injured due to their intense infighting.”

Taking on SAD, CM Mann said, “They are opposing the anti-sacrilege legislation today, but they should first explain why they failed to enact such a law despite being in power on five occasions.”

Flanked by newly appointed AAP halqa in-charge Sarbjot Saabi, who had been a zila parishad chairman and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia’s close aide for more than 15 years, Mann said, “Both Sukhbir and Majithia will be sent to jail.”

Mann claimed that if the Congress, SAD or the BJP comes to power, they would discontinue the welfare schemes and public benefits provided to Punjabis.

He also appealed to residents to provide land for the construction of a state-of-the-art government college in Mukerian.

The CM said the government hospitals at Hajipur and Mukerian would be upgraded with modern healthcare facilities.