Mann attacks previous govts in Punjab over drugs, corruption

Gurdaspur: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday launched a blistering attack on previous govts and unnamed political leaders, accusing them of ruining the state through drugs, corruption, and neglect of border areas, while claiming that his govt was committed to rebuilding Punjab through development and education reforms.He was addressing a gathering in Qadian in the border district of Gurdaspur after laying the foundation stone for the renovation of 237 rural link roads worth Rs 168.44 crore, covering nearly 497 km.Without naming anyone, Mann said smugglers who represented the area for years destroyed generations of Punjab and must now face the people's verdict. Such leaders had neither ideology nor commitment to serve the common man and were only obsessed with capturing power, he added."These royal leaders have nothing in common with ordinary people. Their cars, their overcoats, their wardrobes, and their lifestyles are completely disconnected from the lives of common Punjabis," said Mann.Accusing previous govts in Punjab, the CM said they shut down govt schools and neglected border regions, whereas the Aam Aadmi Party govt was building modern schools and sending teachers abroad for training.Referring to the reported tussle over the CM's post within the Congress, Mann alleged that every Congress leader wanted to become the chief minister. "They have more chief ministerial aspirants than ordinary workers," he said, adding that their top leadership recently rebuked them publicly during a rally. "The Congress is a divided house that will collapse due to its internal infighting," said Mann.Coming down heavily on the leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mann said those who could not even find 11 members to constitute a committee in their own party were dreaming of winning all 117 seats in Punjab. He alleged that such leaders patronised gangsters and allowed drugs to spread among Punjab's youth by shielding smugglers."Akali Dal has become a party of political deadwoods who were rejected by the people time and again," Mann said, adding that although the Akalis might try to misuse religion for political gain, Punjabis would not be misled. MSID:: 129337534 413 |