Barnala, June 25
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the Congress, BJP and Akali Dal, saying the three parties have united against Punjab’s unprecedented progress because they cannot tolerate the overwhelming support being received by the AAP-led government. During a Lok Milni in Barnala, the Chief Minister said the traditional parties have lost their mental balance as they are unable to digest the state’s rapid development and have resorted to fake videos and false propaganda in the name of religion to defame him and mislead the people.
Mann further said, “When my opponents fail to challenge me politically, they try to defame me on religious grounds. Since I have become a nightmare for them, they have now chosen to target me on religious grounds. Every day they create fake videos and circulate them through social media.”
Referring to recent developments, Mann said, “They continuously try to defame me through one accusation after another. Now the SGPC (Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee) has ordered posters to be displayed outside gurdwaras calling for my boycott. But why were such posters not put up against the Akali Dal or Sukhbir Badal when they themselves admitted responsibility for incidents of beadbi?”
Mann added, “On December 2, before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Sukhbir Badal acknowledged his mistakes, admitted wrongdoing, accepted responsibility for the firing incidents, and admitted that orders had been issued against the sangat. Did anyone put up boycott posters outside gurdwaras against them?”
The Chief Minister said that wherever he visits, people gather in huge numbers. “When I visit villages, community gatherings, and public meetings, massive crowds gather. The opposition cannot tolerate this because they themselves cannot attract such public support. Therefore, all three parties have joined hands with the sole objective of defaming me on religious grounds. But ultimately, the people will deliver the final judgment,” he added.
Mann reiterated, “I will continue to stand firmly for Punjab and its interests. They may do whatever they wish, but the people will decide whether anyone can stoop to such a level.”
Calling the circulated videos completely fabricated, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann urged people not to believe them. “These videos are entirely fake and fabricated. Since the opposition cannot compete with me politically, they are trying to tarnish my image through false religious propaganda. They cannot tolerate Punjab’s progress, which is why they continue hatching such conspiracies. The people of Punjab will decide. I belong to the people and will continue living among them.”
The Chief Minister further said that three political parties have united against him because they are unable to digest Punjab’s unprecedented development and the immense affection shown by the people. “Congress, which rolled tanks on Sri Akal Takht Sahib, is questioning us today, and it is supported by the BJP, which favoured Congress in this heinous crime. The third party is the one involved in the incidents of beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. All three have only one agenda, to defame me by every possible means.”
Taking a swipe at the Congress, Mann said, “In the Congress, every leader wants to become the Chief Minister. They have more Chief Ministerial aspirants than ordinary workers. Congress is a divided house that will collapse because of its internal infighting. These leaders have no vision for Punjab. Their only aim is to plunder the wealth of the state by returning to power, but their dreams will never be fulfilled.”