Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and BJP, asserting that the AAP would seek a fresh mandate on the strength of its pro-people governance, including quality schools and hospitals, free electricity, health insurance and financial assistance for women. Taking aim at the Congress’s announcement to discontinue free schemes, he said the party’s stand would further alienate people, while accusing the BJP of attempting to deprive Punjab of its water, Panjab University and Chandigarh. Highlighting Punjab’s contribution to Indian hockey, he said nine of the 11 players in the Indian hockey team hailed from the state, underlining Punjab’s enduring contribution to the nation’s sporting legacy.

Speaking about the Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the initiative was rooted in the principle of ensuring dignity, respect and financial support for women. “The objective is to empower women so that they can live with confidence and self-respect without having to depend on others for their basic needs. Women’s welfare, dignity and financial independence must remain at the centre of governance,” he said.

Lamenting the politicisation of a welfare initiative intended for women, he questioned how the Congress could justify opposing or undermining a measure designed to improve their lives. “Our government remains committed to policies that put women first and provide them with meaningful support,” he added.

Highlighting Punjab’s glorious sporting legacy, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said Tuesday was an important day for the state as the Hero Asian Champions Trophy was set to begin in Jalandhar. “Punjab has always been at the forefront of Indian sports. Nine of the 11 players in the Indian hockey team hail from Punjab, reflecting the state’s immense contribution to the country’s sporting legacy,” he said.

The Chief Minister said Punjab’s hockey players were getting an opportunity to perform before their home crowd after a long time, making the tournament particularly significant for the state’s sports-loving people.

He added, “After successfully hosting the Asian Champions Trophy, Punjab will be eligible to host the 2030 Hockey World Cup. Our government is committed to restoring Punjab’s sporting glory by providing athletes with better opportunities, facilities and encouragement to excel at national and international levels.”

Taking a dig at the Congress, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the party’s conduct in the Vidhan Sabha exposed a contradiction between its public statements and actions. “While the Congress claims to oppose the Special Intensive Revision, its members walked away when they had the opportunity to participate in a meaningful discussion on the issue in the Vidhan Sabha. Their actions speak for themselves,” he said.

Taking aim at the BJP, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the party had repeatedly failed to stand up for Punjab’s interests. “The people of Punjab know who stood with the state in difficult times and who consistently let it down. Punjab’s interests, rights and aspirations must always come first,” he said.

Concluding his address, the Chief Minister said the government would approach the people on the strength of its achievements, commitment to public welfare and determination to protect the state’s interests. “Our government has delivered tangible progress in irrigation, agriculture, sports and social welfare. We will continue working with dedication and honesty to build a stronger and more prosperous Punjab. Our commitment to the rights and aspirations of every Punjabi remains unwavering,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday strongly urged the Centre to reopen the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and ensure regular, hassle-free access for the Sikh Sangat to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. Emphasising that matters of faith must remain above political considerations, he said the spiritual aspirations of devotees must be respected and religious devotion should never become a casualty of petty politics. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha also urged the Centre to facilitate the reopening of the corridor, enabling devotees to fulfil their spiritual aspirations and undertake darshan without hindrance.

Addressing the house, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said matters of faith should not become victims of narrow political considerations. “The spiritual aspirations of the people must be respected. There should be no room for petty politics when it comes to religious devotion. The Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor should be reopened so that devotees can fulfil their spiritual aspirations without hindrance,” he said.

Invoking Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s message of ‘Sarbat da Bhala’, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, moved by Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, passed a resolution urging the Centre to reopen and regularise Sri Kartarpur Sahib corridor, asserting that the passage is a matter of religious freedom and human kinship for lakhs of Sikh Sangat, not merely a diplomatic road between India and Pakistan.

The resolution demanded that the Union government must take immediate steps to reopen the corridor and keep it operational, simplify visit procedures and engage with the Pakistan government to ensure safe, hassle-free and uninterrupted movement of Sangat to Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan.

The restrictions and interruptions in movement through the corridor hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community worldwide and deprive devotees of darshan. The resolution urged the Centre to simplify procedures for devotees, especially the elderly and infirm, to enable maximum devotees to visit the holy shrine.

Meanwhile, MLA and Minister Harjot Bains stated, “Sri Kartarpur Sahib is the cradle of the principles of Kirat Karo, Naam Japo te Vand Chhako. The corridor is not just a passage, it is a bridge that reconnects the Sikh Sangat with the soil where our Guru Sahib walked.”

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday drew a firm line on the state’s river waters, declaring that not a single drop of Punjab’s rightful share would be surrendered as the Vidhan Sabha passed a resolution asserting the state’s rights. Vowing to fight from courts to streets, he questioned Rajasthan’s continued access to Punjab’s water without payment, pegged the state’s outstanding royalty claim at ₹1.43 lakh crore, and asserted that Rajasthan and Haryana had no share in the waters of the Ravi and Beas.

The Chief Minister pointed out his government is strengthening the state’s own irrigation network, expanding canal water access from 22% to 80% of fields in four years and laying 14,000 km of underground pipelines.

Participating in discussions on resolutions concerning river waters and other important issues on the final day of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab would no longer tolerate injustice in the distribution of its precious water resources. “Water is a state subject, and the control of headworks rests with the states. Punjab will vigorously pursue its legitimate rights and will not allow the state’s interests to be sacrificed,” he affirmed.

Questioning Haryana’s claim over Ravi-Beas waters, the Chief Minister said, “It is unfair that Haryana stakes its claim over Ravi-Beas waters while Punjab’s rightful share in Yamuna waters is ignored, despite the Yamuna being part of undivided Punjab.”

Highlighting the transformation in irrigation under his government, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that when his government assumed office in 2022, only 22% of Punjab’s water resources were being utilised, whereas the figure had now risen to nearly 80%.

He said, “We have undertaken an extensive overhaul of Punjab’s irrigation network to ensure that canal water reaches even the tail-end fields. By cleaning rajbahas, laying 14,000 kilometres of pipelines and rejuvenating canals and watercourses, we have strengthened the irrigation system and improved access to water for farmers.”

The Chief Minister said the government has revived the Kandi Canal after nearly four decades and operationalised eight new canals in Pathankot, Amritsar and Gurdaspur. “These initiatives have significantly improved irrigation access, with 60.80 lakh acres of land being irrigated through the government’s efforts. Our commitment is to ensure that every drop counts, strengthen agriculture and provide much-needed relief to farmers,” he said.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab’s interests had suffered for decades, pointing out that the state received royalty on its river waters until 1960, after which the payments stopped completely. “Punjab has a legitimate claim to ₹1.44 lakh crore in royalties for its river waters. Rajasthan continues to receive water from Punjab free of cost and uses it for economic benefit. The people of Punjab, particularly our farmers, have made immense sacrifices to feed the nation. They cannot be expected to accept discrimination when it comes to their own natural resources,” he said.

The Chief Minister asserted that the government would pursue every legitimate avenue to protect Punjab’s water rights and secure justice for its people.