Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Wednesday called out the BJP-led Central Government of deliberately attempting to weaken the Punjab government by withholding the state’s funds, misusing central investigative agencies for political purposes and running a sustained campaign to malign the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said that before the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, the BJP and its supporters had attempted to create fear among people by claiming that the AAP government lacked experience and would not be able to function effectively. “The people of Punjab rejected that narrative and gave a clear mandate to AAP. They said this government had no experience, would not be able to deliver and that the Chief Minister would not even last three months. But the people of Punjab had made up their minds that they would not repeat the mistake of 2017 and gave Bhagwant Mann a clear mandate,” he said.
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge said that after the AAP government came to power, the Centre started withholding Punjab’s funds one after another. “The RDF money running into thousands of crores is still pending with the Centre. Even MGNREGA was effectively weakened by changing its framework and name, which impacted Punjab,” he said.
Referring to the floods in Punjab, Baltej Pannu said that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the state and being apprised of the extensive losses caused by the floods, Punjab received only ₹1,600 crore, which he described as token assistance. “The promised additional support had also failed to materialise. The Bhagwant Singh Mann government continued its development and welfare work despite financial constraints created by the Centre,” he added.
“They thought that if Punjab’s funds were stopped, the government would not be able to build schools, strengthen the health system, establish Mohalla Clinics, improve hospitals or construct roads. But the government continued working because it had honesty and the determination to deliver,” he said.
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Highlighting the state government’s work in education, Baltej Pannu said Punjab had overtaken Kerala and emerged as a leading state in the sector. “The establishment of the Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF), which he said was working to save lives on Punjab’s roads, as well as the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign against drugs with public participation,” he added.
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge pointed out, “BJP is repeatedly using old videos and selective narratives to portray Punjab in a negative light. Central investigative agencies were being deployed around elections with the objective of undermining elected governments. Whenever elections approach in a state, the BJP launches agencies like the CBI and ED. Their only objective is to find ways to undermine the work of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and create a perception that his government has failed,” he said.
Baltej Pannu said similar attempts had been made against welfare initiatives such as the Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, but the Bhagwant Mann government successfully implemented such schemes despite opposition.
On recent developments involving the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Baltej Pannu accused the agency of attempting to create a negative media narrative against AAP leaders. Referring to AAP Minister Sanjeev Arora, he said, “He is still in jail and has been subjected to harassment, while allegations are being levelled against ministers one after another.”
Baltej Pannu also questioned the ED’s communications with the Punjab Police, saying that media reports about letters allegedly sent by the ED to the Director General of Police (DGP) were being repeatedly highlighted while the response sought by the Punjab Police from the agency was being ignored. “The Punjab Police has asked the ED to provide clear evidence and complete details of the case. If the material being shown is merely unclear screenshots of chats, how can an FIR be registered on that basis? The ED should provide the documents and details so that the matter can be taken forward. But there is no answer,” he said.
Baltej Pannu said repeated leaks and selective media reports were aimed at maligning Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann because the BJP had failed to find anything against him. “The people of Punjab know the truth. They have seen the work done by the Bhagwant Mann government despite every possible obstacle. The BJP can continue its attempts to malign the Chief Minister, but the people have already made up their minds. In the coming Assembly elections, Punjab will once again elect Bhagwant Singh Mann to continue serving the state,” he said.
