Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday said that the people of Punjab have not forgotten how the Badal family and the Akali leadership repeatedly compromised the state’s interests, supported the three black farm laws, misused religion for political gains and allowed the drug menace to flourish in Punjab. Interacting with people during a Lok Milni programme at Panjgrain Kalan village in Faridkot, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that while previous governments pushed Punjab towards drugs, unemployment and decline, the AAP Government is transforming the state through strict action against drug smugglers, transparent government recruitment, historic reforms in education, universal healthcare and women-centric welfare schemes.
The Chief Minister asserted that every action of those who betrayed Punjab and its people will be brought before the public, while the present government remains focused on building a healthy, educated and prosperous Punjab.
Addressing the gathering, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, accompanied by Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Kultar Singh Sandhwan, said that the Badal family has ruled the state for a long period of time and had always hatched conspiracies to weaken the state. “The sole agenda of the Badals has been to secure their own interests by compromising those of the state and its people. These are opportunist leaders who change their colours and their stance like a chameleon as per their convenience and vested political interests,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that people had elected the Akalis but they proved to be traitors and had always backstabbed the state and its people. “When the entire farming community was fighting for its rights, the Akalis supported the Modi Government on the draconian farm laws merely to save their berths in the Union Ministry. The Akalis misused religion for their vested political interests and the people can never forgive them for this,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Citing another example, the Chief Minister said that these leaders have long befooled the people by projecting themselves as farmers. “They should explain how any food grower can acquire a huge fleet of buses and a lavish hotel in Gurgaon. All these assets have been accumulated because they sold the interests of the state and its people for their vested political interests,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Akalis were responsible for the genocide of generations because the drug trade was patronized by them and flourished during their long misrule. The Chief Minister said that the hands of these leaders are drenched with the blood of millions of youth who fell prey to drugs that were supplied in the state through official vehicles. “The sins of these leaders are unpardonable and they can never be forgiven by the people for their long saga of misdeeds. Those responsible for beadbi appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and admitted their crime in full public view,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that when it no longer suited their political ambitions, they took a U-turn. “However, the entire state knows the real face of these leaders who have always misled the people through political gimmicks. These leaders patronized gangsters and infused drugs into the veins of Punjab’s youth by shielding drug smugglers. The people will never forgive the Akalis for their sins and will once again teach them a befitting lesson. Time and again people elected them, but they repeatedly betrayed Punjab and its people,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the Akalis misused religion for their vested political interests and therefore cannot be forgiven by the people.
He said that even late Parkash Singh Badal never made Sukhbir Singh Badal the head of the state because he knew that the former Deputy Chief Minister would put Punjab in disarray. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Sukhbir Singh Badal is not aware of the ground realities because throughout his life he has lived in a protected environment surrounded by luxuries and opulence.
He quipped that Sukhbir Singh Badal is not even aware of the basic topography of the state but still wants to attain political power in Punjab. “Leaving everything aside, the former Deputy Chief Minister cannot even differentiate between the basic crops of Punjab because he has scant knowledge about the state’s core issues. On the other hand, the Punjab Government has taken several initiatives to ensure the well-being of the state and prosperity of its people,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that the Punjab Government has provided more than 67,500 government jobs to the youth. “The era of cash payments and favouritism has ended in Punjab. Today, youth are getting jobs solely on the basis of merit and eligibility. The government is living up to the expectations of Punjabis and every single penny is being spent on the development of the state and its people,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for the first time a Chief Minister is directly listening to ordinary people through open public interactions rather than speaking only from the stage.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is optimally utilizing every single penny of the state exchequer for the welfare of the people.
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He said that more than 90% of households in Punjab are getting free electricity and farmers are receiving power during the daytime, which is unprecedented.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that at a time when the assets of the country are being handed over by the Union Government to its blue-eyed friends at throwaway prices, the Punjab Government has created history by purchasing a private thermal plant and naming it after Sri Guru Amardass Ji.
The Chief Minister said that to provide comprehensive healthcare to the people, the Punjab Government has launched Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the first-of-its-kind scheme in the country that provides cashless medical treatment worth up to ₹10 lakh to every resident family in Punjab. “Punjab is the first Indian state to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage, significantly easing the financial burden on families while ensuring quality healthcare services,” he added
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this historic initiative aims to provide universal healthcare coverage to all families in the state and that people have already availed free treatment worth more than ₹650 crore under the scheme.
The Chief Minister said that under the Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, from July 1 women beneficiaries above the age of 18 years will receive notifications on their mobile phones regarding financial assistance. “Women belonging to all other categories will receive ₹1,000 per month, while Scheduled Caste women will receive ₹1,500 per month. The funds will be directly transferred into their bank accounts and women already receiving social security pensions will also remain eligible,” he said. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 97% of women in Punjab are expected to benefit from the scheme and the state government has earmarked ₹9,300 crore in the budget for it.
Emphasising the larger social significance of the scheme, the Chief Minister said that while the financial assistance may not make women rich, it will provide them with dignity and self-respect. “Women deserve the highest respect because they are the source of life itself. The blessings of mothers and sisters can help overcome every challenge in the world,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that strengthening women’s financial autonomy is essential for improving household welfare, promoting gender equity and enhancing women’s participation in social and economic decision-making.
The Chief Minister said that he was grateful to the Almighty for bestowing upon him the opportunity to enact the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act, 2026.
He said that whenever incidents of beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji took place, the psyche of millions of people was deeply hurt. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Almighty blessed him with the wisdom and strength to bring this Bill after detailed consultations with legal experts. “The AAP Government has drafted this Bill carefully so that no future amendments or loopholes can weaken it,” he said.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the legislation would act as a deterrent against anti-social elements and ensure that no one dares to commit such a heinous crime in future. He said that beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was a deep-rooted conspiracy to disturb peace, amity, brotherhood and communal harmony.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is like a father to every Sikh and it is the collective duty of all to ensure its sanctity. He said that people across the globe are expressing happiness and gratitude for this historic step taken by the Punjab Government.
Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Kultar Singh Sandhwan and others were also present on the occasion.
