DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday rapped the Congress leaders especially the Leader of Opposition for making irresponsible and irrelevant statements and indulging in theatrics just to satiate their lust for hogging the media limelight.

Addressing the gathering during the Vidhan Sabha session, the Chief Minister quipped that those who are habitual of obstructing the session often stage walk out on trivial issues to get media attention. He said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that the 1975 World Cup Hockey winner team is sitting in the Vidhan Sabha gallery. Training guns against opposition, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is unfortunate that the opposition was questioning the credentials of eminent environmentalist Sant Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal who was working for the environment since 1999.

The Chief Minister said that those asking about degrees of Baba Seechewal have forgotten that their leader Rahul Gandhi who has a degree from Cambridge has done nothing credible for the country. He said that those who had degrees from Doon, Sanawar or others and were helms of affairs in the state have contributed nothing for the country or state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders forget that a person without any professional degree can do exceptional work of public service and Baba Seechewal is a glaring example of it.

The Chief Minister said that it is a fact that Baba Seechewal can clean the dirty water of ponds but he cannot clean the filthy and myopic mindset of these leaders. He said that the leader of the opposition has lost his mental balance just for the sake of his lust to become Chief Minister. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Baba Seechewal's work was even recognized by the eminent President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

The Chief Minister said that the owner of Facebook is a dropout from college and doesn't have any degree but the Congress leaders use these platforms to abuse him. He quipped that a section of non-serious Congress stage walkout from the session whereas some of the others attend the session which reflects that it is a divided house. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that those who say that the state government is run from Delhi forget that their affairs are managed from Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and other states.

The Chief Minister said that Congress doesn't respect Punjabis and humiliate them and animosity against Sant Seechewal was a reflection of that. He said that such an outburst against Padamshree Awardee Sant Seechewal is unfortunate and unwarranted. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that many leaders of national and international stature visit Baba Seechewal for seeking guidance wherever these leaders make irrational statements against them.

Listing path breaking initiatives of the state government, the Chief Minister said that water had depleted in 117 out 153 blocks, which went into black dark zone. He said that the previous governments never bothered about making any effort to save the groundwater and the farmers at the tail ends, on this land of five rivers, never got water. Bhagwant Singh Mann said after assuming charge the AAP government has revived 15947 water courses in the state due to which water has reached at the tail ends even in remotest villages.

The Chief Minister said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government the ground water level has started increasing and as per a report of the Union government it has witnessed an upward enhancement of one metre. He said that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption and none of the corrupt officers is being tolerated. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every corrupt officer will be nailed and strict action will be taken against them.

The Chief Minister said that every single day of the state government has been dedicated towards restoring the pristine glory of Punjab and to ensure holistic development of the state based on people's feedback. He said that 'Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme' has been launched in every district to cater to important local everyday developmental needs of the people of that district. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the fund worth Rs 5 crore annually will be administered by the District Commissioners (DCs) and will be spent based on the recommendations of MLAs, community organizations, citizen groups and public-spirited citizens.

He said that this fund will be a huge enabler in ensuring all-round development of all our districts across all sectors such as construction and repair of roads and bridges, streetlights, clinics, hospitals, schools, water, sanitation and others. He said that for the first time any such provision has been made to give impetus to the development works in the state thereby immensely benefitting the common man. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a budgetary provision worth Rs.585 crore (Rs.5 crore per constituency) has been proposed for the 'Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme' in the budget. The Chief Minister said that the state government has created history by giving 52,606 jobs to the youth merely in 36 months of assuming the charge of office.

(editor@dailyworld.in)