Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday accused the opposition of running a malicious campaign against him because it had no substantive issues to raise and was unable to accept the pace of development in the state.Mann challenged opposition leaders to prove a single allegation of corruption against him or quit politics. He claimed they were frustrated by his government's development and public welfare initiatives."I challenge these leaders to prove even a single allegation of corruption against me or quit politics.
They are frustrated because they cannot digest the unprecedented pace of development and public welfare initiatives being undertaken by our government," claimed Mann.Addressing an event in Mohali, Mann accused the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress of pushing Punjab towards economic and social distress through what he described as self-serving politics. He alleged that leaders of the two parties were working together to defame him because they could not accept that a person without a political dynasty or inherited power was working for ordinary people. "Our answer to their allegations will always be our work, our achievements and the smiles on the faces of ordinary families," Mann said.At the event, Mann handed over appointment letters to 801 newly recruited people, taking the total number of recruitments under his government to 71,777.
He said every appointment had been made strictly on merit, without cash or "farmaish", or recommendation. Mann alleged that government jobs had been sold for lakhs of rupees under previous governments through money, recommendations and "vaddhi", or bribes.
He said his government had ensured transparent recruitment without any bribe and challenged the opposition to identify even one instance of corruption in the process.He also announced that another 600 people would receive government jobs next week and reiterated his government's commitment to employment, merit and building a "Rangla Punjab".Targeting the Akali Dal leadership, Mann alleged that it had captured lucrative businesses, including mining, during its tenure and exploited the state's resources for personal gain."Those who looted Punjab for years are now preaching sermons on honesty. The people of the state have not forgotten how these leaders betrayed their trust and mortgaged the future of generations for their vested interests," he said.Mann said Akali Dal (Badal) leaders had once claimed they would rule Punjab for 25 years, but the party was now struggling to find even 25 credible leaders within its ranks.Responding to allegations that he was plundering the state exchequer, the chief minister said every initiative undertaken by his government was aimed at public welfare."The state exchequer belongs to the people of Punjab, and every penny of public money is being spent for their welfare.
Unlike those who treated the state treasury as their personal property, we consider ourselves trustees of the people's money," he said.Mann urged the newly appointed employees to prepare for the Union Public Service Commission examinations and aspire to become Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service officers. He said the government was strengthening educational infrastructure and creating institutions of excellence to help children from ordinary and underprivileged families reach senior positions in the country's administrative system.He said it was unfortunate that while his government was working to help Punjab's youth become IAS and IPS officers, the previous Akali leadership had spoken about offering subsidies for animal husbandry."There is nothing wrong with animal husbandry, but the aspirations of Punjab's youth cannot be confined to such limited horizons.
The children of the state deserve opportunities to become administrators, scientists, doctors, engineers and leaders of tomorrow," he added.Mann used the recruitment event to highlight his government's employment and education initiatives while rejecting the opposition's corruption allegations and challenging its leaders to substantiate their claims.- Ends