Batala, one of Punjab’s most historic cities, is set for a major transformation as Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann rolled out development projects worth ₹177 crore, combining large-scale infrastructure expansion with a sharp political message against previous regimes. With over ₹95.72 crore worth of works by the Municipal Corporation (MC), ₹16.05 crore by the Mandi Board, and ₹65.09 crore in road construction by the PWD, alongside fresh repair works worth ₹42.56 crore and ₹34.97 crore, the push includes new bridges, a modern bus stand to ease traffic congestion, and a ₹14.81 crore allocation for new police lines.
Declaring the development drive as a decisive break from the past, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the people of Punjab had ended “three generations of Akali-Congress loot” in 2022 and would not allow their return in 2027, while accusing previous governments of deliberately weakening anti-beadbi laws to protect themselves. He also targeted traditional parties, saying their disconnect from ordinary citizens reflects why people have rejected them, as his government moves to combine governance delivery with accountability.
Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone of several key development projects, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Akalis had deliberately framed weak law against beadbi just to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime were not punished for their sins.” He added, “These leaders were also afraid that they would also get punishment for their crime due to which they ensured that the laws were weak.”
The Chief Minister stated that the Punjab Government has passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, stipulating harsher punishment for beadbi. “The dastardly act of beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was a deep rooted conspiracy to disturb hard earned peace, amity, brotherhood and communal harmony in the state,” he said.
The Chief Minister asserted that the Act will ensure strict action against offenders, saying, “Now anyone found guilty in this unpardonable offence will not be spared at any cost and exemplary action would be taken against them as a deterrent for others.” He emphasised, “Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the father of every Sikh and the state government is duty bound to ensure the safety of this holy granth.” He added, “If Sri Guru Granth Sahib is not safe in the state then where else can it be,” calling the legislation a historic milestone to check beadbi.
Taking a jibe at the Akali Dal’s so-called ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The real name of this gimmick of Akali Dal is ‘parivar bachao yatra’ as the entire effort is aimed at safeguarding their family interests.” He challenged the Akali leadership, asking, “After looting the state for 15 years, from whom they are trying to save the state from.” He said that the Akalis had plundered the state mercilessly, bruised the psyche of Punjabis emotionally, and patronised several mafias.
The Chief Minister further said, “Everyone knows that this family was a stooge of Britishers and was conferred the title of Sir by them for hobnobbing against the patriots who fought for the country.” He added, “The family had felicitated General Dyer, the perpetrator of Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919, by hosting a dinner for him after this heinous incident,” stating that such acts exposed their anti-national and anti-Punjab mindset.
He said, “Not only this the family also ensured that General Dyer was also bestowed siropa and forgiveness at Golden Temple.” Emphasising that history cannot be erased, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The dubious characters of Badal’s ancestors are etched on the pages of history,” adding that “the hands of this family are drenched with the blood of the patriots and the role of these traitors in backstabbing the nationalists can never be forgotten.”
The Chief Minister said that these leaders had “used the bullets and then the drug (Chitta) to ruin the youth of the state,” asserting that they can never be forgiven. He added, “Akalis should be booked for the genocide of generations as the drug trade was patronized by them and it flourished during their long misrule.” He further said, “The hands of these leaders are drenched with the blood of millions of youth who fell prey to the drug that was supplied in the state in their official vehicles.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The sins of these leaders are unpardonable and they can never be forgiven by the people for their long saga of misdeeds, which are fresh in the minds of people.” He termed them “opportunist leaders who change their colors like a chameleon as per their convenience and vested political interests,” adding that the large turnout of people even in scorching heat reflects the public’s support for the state government.
Highlighting governance, he said, “While the state government has worked wholeheartedly for people these leaders minted money from the Power Purchase Agreements and even from the coal that was supplied to the state from the private firms.” He added that coal supply from Pachwara Coal Mine has resumed after a long gap, and in 2024-25 it achieved the target of supplying 70 lakh metric tons of coal. “Since the resumption of supply from Pachwara in October 2022 the AAP government has saved ₹1,462 crore,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that Akali leader Sukhbir Badal is making unrealistic promises and “baseless and irrational statements like returning of Dinosaurs in the state,” adding that such statements reflect desperation to regain power, which he said will not happen. He added that these leaders “start spitting venom against him at the early dawn of the day” because their “ugly face” has been exposed before the people.
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CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “These parties played a game of musical chairs and plundered the wealth of the state during their tenure in the government besides shielding the other party.” He added that people voted for the broom, leading to transformation in schools, hospitals and other sectors. He said that previous leaders had built “huge palaces by amassing whopping wealth by misusing their official positions.”
He added, “The walls of these palatial palaces were high and the gates usually remained closed for the people,” noting that such leaders remained inaccessible and were eventually rejected by the public. He said that people have now become aware and are not influenced by misleading propaganda.
The Chief Minister said that these “haughty politicians had always taken the people of state for granted,” and added that while the Punjab Government discusses education, health, power, and agriculture, other parties focus only on capturing power. He said that such leaders are “baffled as people are not giving them any sort of response” and are only concerned about their families.
Listing key initiatives, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “For the first time farmers have been provided power during daytime.” He added that “300 units of free electricity per month are being provided to all domestic consumers” and “around 90% of domestic consumers are receiving zero electricity bills.” He further stated that “more than 65,000 youngsters have got government jobs.”
He urged people to enroll under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, stating that it provides “cashless treatment of ₹10 lakh” per family. He added that “over 30 lakh beneficiaries have already received health cards” and “1.65 lakh people have received free treatment under this scheme.”
Talking about Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, he said that the scheme provides “₹1000 per month for other category women and ₹1500 for SC category women above 18 years.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the government is responsibly using taxpayers’ money for public welfare, adding that this approach was missing earlier. He said previous governments had “mercilessly plundered the wealth of the people” and derailed Punjab’s progress.
He stated that people wisely voted to bring a pro-people government to power and reiterated that they will not forgive the Akalis for their actions. “People had elected Akalis time and again but they had proved to be traitors and had always backstabbed the state and its people,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that Akalis had “misused religion for their vested political interests,” and added that people have lost faith in traditional parties due to their anti-people and anti-Punjab stance. He reiterated that previous rulers were more focused on their families than Punjab and Punjabis, which led to their rejection by the public.
In his address, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said, “It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that Bhagwant Singh Mann has proved to be the most popular Chief Minister of the state.” He added, “Bhagwant Singh Mann is the only Chief Minister in the country who is working for the welfare of people whereas all the other states have Chiefs who are working for greed or their party.”
Manish Sisodia further said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the biggest threat to the democracy in the country,” and urged people to protect their votes.
On the occasion, Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, senior AAP leader and Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia, MLA Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi and others were also present.
