Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday cautioned people against voting for the BJP in the state poll early next year, saying it would impose repressive farm laws if voted to power.
The CM made the remarks during a Lok Milni programme at Manki village in Samrala. Mann said the BJP’s “anti-Punjab mindset” had been exposed once again as Sanskrit language had been made compulsory in Army schools while Punjabi was declared optional.
He alleged that the party thrived on creating communal tensions before elections to polarise voters.
He also reminded people of deaths of farmers during the course of the agitation against the central farm laws on Delhi borders in 2020-21, questioning how the BJP could still seek votes in Punjab.
“The BJP’s politics revolves around creating divisions between communities and then frightening both sides for votes. Punjab has already seen dark days in the past, which derailed the development of the state. Therefore, people must reject such forces,” he added.
Urging people to remain united, Mann said his government had worked tirelessly for the all-round development of Punjab and he never misused public money.
“I have not taken even a single penny from the public exchequer for myself. Every rupee of taxpayers’ money is being spent judiciously for public welfare. Being your son and brother, I have always focused on sharing your pain and hardships rather than living a life of luxury like previous rulers,” he said.
Slamming the SAD, he said the party had deeply bruised the psyche of Punjabis as incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib took place during its regime.
“Every vote cast for Akalis will be a mandate in favour of sacrilege of the Guru and Gurbani. They disrespected the bani of the great Gurus and ordered firing on innocent people in Behbal Kalan and Bargadi,” Mann said.
Attacking the Congress, Mann said, “The Congress is a divided house and its infighting will destroy it. Their leaders are daydreaming about coming to power, but Punjabis are fully aware of their reality,” he said.
