Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Congress, asserting that the era of political parties taking turns to rule Punjab is over and that those responsible for betraying the state’s trust will be held accountable. During a massive gathering during a Lok Milni in Phagwara, the Chief Minister said that while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s Jhaadu is cleaning Punjab’s political system, the Akalis and Congress, two sides of the same coin, are struggling for political survival after decades of pursuing vested interests.

Pointing out that the Akali leadership is misleading people and questioning their credibility, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that those who lied before Sri Akal Takht Sahib cannot be loyal to anyone. He further remarked that the Congress is on its death bed due to its internal infighting, while Punjab is witnessing unprecedented progress in education, healthcare, power and welfare under the people-centric governance of the AAP Government.

Addressing a Lok Milni in Phagwara, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Gone are the days when these parties used to play musical chairs and wait for their turn of power. Actually, these parties safeguarded each other’s interests during their days in power due to which their misdeeds were never exposed. However, now the people have elected the Aam Aadmi Party and the symbol of this party, the jhaadu, is cleansing the political system of the state. The day is not far when the Akalis will be behind bars for their sins.”

The Chief Minister said, “Akalis and Congress are two sides of the same coin. They are not concerned about the people but are concerned only about their vested interests. They themselves executed sacrilege incidents at many places and lied before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and later agreed too. They got police officers killed during terrorism and even gave promotions to guilty police officers. They bestowed themselves with the title of Fakr-e-Qaum whereas they had facilitated the safe exit of the culprits of the 1978 incident.”

Lashing out at the Akali leadership, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Sukhbir Badal is not aware about the ground realities because throughout his life he has lived in a secured environment with luxuries and opulence. Sukhbir Singh Badal is a convent educated political leader of Punjab who is not aware of the basic topography of the state but wants to attain political power in Punjab. Leaving everything aside, the former Deputy Chief Minister cannot even differentiate the basic crops of the state because he has scant knowledge about the basic issues.”

Referring to the issue of sacrilege, the Chief Minister stated, “Whenever incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji took place, the psyche of millions of people was deeply hurt. The Almighty has blessed me with the wisdom and strength to bring this Bill after detailed consultation with legal experts. The state government has drafted this Bill carefully so that no future amendments or loopholes would weaken it.”

The Chief Minister further noted, “This Bill will act as a deterrent for anti-social elements to indulge in any such sin in future and no one will ever be able to indulge in this heinous crime. The Akalis were never sincere about making such a law when they were in power. The truth is that their intentions were flawed. The Akalis allowed sacrilege incidents to take place for their political gains. They even admitted their mistakes before Sri Akal Takht Sahib but later denied them publicly. Those who can lie before the Takht can never be loyal to anyone. People must remain cautious of such individuals who are not loyal to anyone and only want political power to plunder the state.”

The Chief Minister said, “The Akalis misused religion for their vested interests. The Jathedars are appointed from the pockets of the Akalis due to which they are indulging in politics. These people have no agenda and their sole aim is to defame me by hook or by crook. People are aware of the dubious character of these leaders and they will never get swayed by their theatrics.”

Taking a swipe at the Congress party, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Congress party is on its death bed and will be finished very soon because it has no vision for the people and the state. Their only aim is to plunder the wealth of Punjab by assuming power but their dreams will never be fulfilled. The Congress party is a divided house that will collapse due to its infighting. It is a pity that the top Congress leaders who come to unite these leaders squabbling for power are not even aware how to pronounce their names.”

Emphasising the role of governance in shaping the future of Punjab, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The work of any government is to provide wings to children so that they can script a new success story in life. Every file signed by me is aimed at the benefit of the common man and the state. More than 67,000 government jobs have been provided to youth without corruption or recommendation. Every decision of the state government is aimed at the progress of the state and prosperity of its people.”

Highlighting the transformation in the education sector, the Chief Minister stated, “Schools of Eminence have been set up across the state to impart quality education to students. These schools have been equipped with smart classrooms, fully equipped laboratories and playgrounds for scientific learning. To upscale the expertise of teachers, a special programme has been embarked upon under which teachers and principals are being sent abroad for training to make sure that they are well versed with modern teaching practices and can prepare students for future competitions in the international arena. It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that Punjab has ranked first in the National Achievement Survey conducted by the Government of India, surpassing even Kerala.”

The Chief Minister further said, “Students are being offered specialised coaching for competitive examinations such as Armed Forces Preparation, NEET, JEE, CLAT and NIFT. It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that students from Schools of Eminence and other government schools have qualified for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced and NEET examinations. Punjab has become the first state to provide free healthcare to all citizens and around 1,000 Aam Aadmi Clinics are providing free treatment daily.”

Referring to the power sector reforms undertaken by his Government, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Since the AAP government assumed charge in 2022, around 90% households of the state are receiving free electricity. For the first time in the history of Punjab, more than eight hours of uninterrupted power is being supplied to farm tube wells during the paddy season and that too during the daytime. The AAP Government has laid 14,000 kilometres of pipelines and watercourses across the state to facilitate farmers in every nook and corner of Punjab.”

The Chief Minister said, “As much as 21,000 cusecs of water has been released through these pipelines and watercourses to benefit farmers by catering to their irrigation needs. This water released by the state government is equal to the water supplied by two Bhakra canals. Farmers across Punjab will be immensely benefited by this initiative. Recharge points have been created in canals and rivers so that groundwater levels can improve, and water levels have already increased by two to four metres in several areas.”

The Chief Minister said that the AAP Government remains committed to ensuring that the benefits of development reach every village, every farmer and every household of the state.

Highlighting the people-centric governance model of the AAP Government, the Chief Minister stated, “The taxpayers’ money is being judiciously spent on the welfare of the people and it is coming back to them through development, schools, hospitals and roads. The state government is now working for the people and has closed toll plazas, thereby saving ₹70 lakh of the people’s money every day. The AAP Government is making strenuous efforts for the well-being of every section of society and no stone is being left unturned for this noble cause.”

Referring to the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The AAP government has started the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna under which women above 18 years of age from all other categories will receive ₹1,000 per month, while women from the Scheduled Caste category will receive ₹1,500 per month as financial assistance. For ordinary people, especially the poor, ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 is a significant amount. This amount is a mark of respect for mothers and daughters and the smile on women’s faces due to this scheme gives me great satisfaction.”

Highlighting the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the Chief Minister stated, “In order to provide comprehensive healthcare to people, the AAP Government has launched the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the first-of-its-kind scheme in the country that provides cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh for every resident family in Punjab. It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that Punjab is the first Indian state to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage, which has significantly eased the financial burden on the public while ensuring quality health services.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann further said, “This historic move is aimed at providing universal healthcare to all families of the state. People have availed free treatment worth more than ₹650 crore under the scheme so far.”

The Chief Minister stated, “Today Punjab is making rapid strides in every field because the state government has taken every step for the comprehensive development of Punjab. The AAP Government has taken path-breaking initiatives in health, education, power and other sectors. Work on the construction of more than 49,000 kilometres of rural roads is going on in full swing and will be accomplished soon.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The state government has closed 19 toll plazas in Punjab, which is saving ₹64 lakh daily from the pockets of common people in toll fees. The AAP Government has hitherto fulfilled every promise made to the people of the state and Punjab is the first state to do so. The sole agenda of the state government is to ensure the progress of the state and the prosperity of its people.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister announced a grant of more than ₹18 crore for the development of the Phagwara Assembly segment.

The Chief Minister said, “No stone will be left unturned for the progress of the constituency.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also directed the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that the ADC Phagwara is given more powers so that people of the segment do not have to travel to Kapurthala for petty works.

Highlighting the objective behind the Lok Milni programme, the Chief Minister said, “Lok Milnis are not associated with politics. The sole aim of the state government is to usher in development and prosperity. Lok Milnis act as a pivotal bridge between the government and the masses. The AAP government is working tirelessly for the well-being of the people and several key initiatives have already been taken in the state.”

Lok Sabha MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal and several other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Addressing Punjabis across the world, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday said that his entire public life has been dedicated to serving the people and safeguarding the interests of Punjab, and that no amount of political propaganda can weaken his bond with the Sangat or the people of the state. Stating that two independent forensic reports have completely exposed the truth behind the fake video controversy, the Chief Minister said that not a single one of the 1,191 frames examined matches his face, height, physique or physical appearance.

Declaring the episode as a calculated attempt to malign him because certain forces cannot tolerate Punjab’s progress and the overwhelming love being shown by the people, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said he has directed the DGP Punjab to identify every individual involved in creating, financing and circulating the fake video, regardless of where they are hiding in the world, and bring them before the Sangat. Reaffirming his lifelong commitment to serving Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sangat and the people of Punjab, the Chief Minister appealed to Punjabis not to fall prey to politically motivated conspiracies being hatched by those using religion as a shield to protect their shrinking political relevance.

In a video message, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann on CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Ever since I got an opportunity to serve the people, first as a Member of Parliament and now as Chief Minister. When it came to paying tribute to the Chhote Sahibzadas, no tribute had ever been paid to them in Parliament’s history. Guru Sahib entrusted me with that service and, for the first time, tribute was paid to the Chhote Sahibzadas in Parliament. A moment of silence was observed, their sacrifice was discussed and their Shaheedi (martyrdom) was honoured.”

The Chief Minister noted, “Now, as Chief Minister, a matter came before me regarding the vehicles used for carrying Palki Sahib. These vehicles were not exempt from tax. We waived the tax on all Palki Sahib vehicles across Punjab.”

He added, “We gave a nod to exempt specially designed vehicles for carrying the Parkash of Religious Scriptures of different religions in the state from Motor Vehicle Taxes (MVT). The exemption for these vehicles have been given in view of the Nagar Kirtans / Harinaam performed by various religious organizations which act as a catalyst to promote ethos of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood..”

“During the 350th Shaheedi Diwas celebrations of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, we made the best possible arrangements and people appreciated those arrangements. For the first time in history, we dedicated the Punjab Vidhan Sabha at the feet of the Guru by holding a special Assembly session at Anandpur Sahib,” he added.

The Chief Minister pointed out, “We accorded the status of Holy Cities to Amritsar, Sri Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo, the cities associated with Takhat Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib and Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib. No previous government had the courage to take such a decision.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “When incidents of sacrilege were taking place, the law was very weak. People could get bail even from the police station or escape punishment. We enacted a stringent law, Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, against sacrilege. People praised that law immensely. Even today, people call me and tell me that the law has brought peace to their hearts. I tell them that I did not do it on my own. Guru Sahib entrusted me with that service.”

The Chief Minister said, “I am surprised that those who have become self-appointed custodians of religion, and the political people who appointed their favourites to important positions, are now attaching my name to a fake video in which I am not even present. Someone is acting like me, imitating me, styling his hair like mine and trying to resemble me.”

He affirmed, “Based on some so-called investigation, they are declaring me Panth-Virodhi from the ‘faseel’ of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and telling people not to associate with Bhagwant Mann. This is open political propaganda. This is political messaging and nothing else.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Today I am placing before you two reports. These are not reports from any Punjab laboratory. These reports are from laboratories outside Punjab and are related to this very video. A total of 1,191 frames were examined. All 1,191 frames were checked. Not a single frame matches my face from any angle, my side profile, my front profile, my eyes, my height, my physique or my body structure. The reports clearly establish that someone used another individual to create this fake video with the specific intention of declaring it to be a video of Bhagwant Mann and then defaming me.”

He added, “The reports also state that the individual in the video is approximately 2 inches taller than me. How is it possible that my height suddenly increases by two inches in a video? Moreover, I cannot even think of doing such a thing, even in my dreams. Nobody knows when this video was recorded. Nobody knows where it was recorded. Nobody knows who originally circulated it. The only thing that is clear is that when I take decisions in favour of the people of Punjab, those decisions are becoming unbearable for certain people.”

The Chief Minister noted, “The people of Punjab are showering me with immense love. Mothers bless me, elders pray for my long life and young people gather for selfies. Wherever I go, whether it is a public gathering, a rally or a Lok Milni, people come together in large numbers.”

Recounting his government’s achievement for the people of Punjab, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Our government has provided free electricity to 90% of households, jobs to over 67,000 youth without corruption, opened Aam Aadmi Clinics, Schools of Eminence, improved roads, closed toll plazas saving ₹70 lakh daily, and is building infrastructure. At the time when our government had assumed the charge of office only 22% canal water was being used in the state for irrigation purposes but now it has risen up to more than 80% as the water is reaching tail ends.”

“After nearly 70 years, canal water is once again reaching people’s fields. Farmers are offering Ardas before directing that water towards their lands. These developments are also becoming difficult for some people to tolerate,” he added.

He asserted, “And now even the Congress, which demolished Sri Akal Takht Sahib, whose scars and bloodstains history still remembers, has joined this chorus. According to them, Bhagwant Mann is responsible for everything. All three parties have now united. They may unite as much as they want. When the people stand united on one side, I have nothing to worry about. What hurts me is that despite the work I have done for Sikh institutions and Sikh causes, such attacks are being carried out against me.”

The Chief Minister stated, “I am a secular person. I want to work for all religions. Every individual should have the freedom to practise his or her faith. Religion gives people spiritual satisfaction and nobody has the right to interfere in another person’s faith. At the very least, the President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has himself publicly stated that he is a loyal soldier of Sukhbir Singh Badal. He should have said that he is a loyal soldier of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. When a person holding such an important position openly identifies himself as a soldier of a political leader, what else can people expect?”

Referring to the forensic reports, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The reports even analyse the surroundings visible in the video, including the table and the hotel room. Tell me, who keeps such photographs in a hotel room? I had said the same thing when I appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib. I said clearly that I am not the person in this video. Whether it is AI or not is a separate matter. When I am not even present in the video, that itself settles the matter.”

The Chief Minister stated, “On the basis of these two reports, I have instructed the DGP Punjab that whoever carried out this act, whoever arranged the shooting of this video, whoever financed it, whichever room it was shot in and wherever in the world it was produced, those individuals should be identified and brought before the Sangat.”

“Thereafter, the Nanak Naam Leva Sangat will decide. The Sangat of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is supreme. Sri Akal Takht Sahib is supreme and our heads bow before it. However, decisions taken in this manner and announced from the Takht have not been accepted by many people,” he affirmed.

The Chief Minister appealed to the Sri Guru Nanak Nanak Naam Leva Sangat not to fall prey to these devious political designs. “These people are merely trying to recover and protect the political positions they have lost. They are using religion as a political tool,” he added.

Reaffirming his commitment to Punjab, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Every minute of my life, every second of my life and every heartbeat in my heart beats for Punjab. I will continue to work for Punjab. The love, respect and blessings that you are giving me mean a great deal to me. Without any greed, without any selfish motive, I will always stand for the rights and interests of Punjab. I have always served Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the people, and I cannot even think of having any conflict with the Sangat.”

“Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.”