Under the vigilance department scanner in a land related case, former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal Monday dared Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to “do whatever” he wants and lodge “whatever case” he wishes against him, and said he was not scared of threats issued by the Aam Aadmi Party leader. “CM Saab, I heard about the threat that you issued at political function.Cowards issue threats. You chose the wrong man and I am not scared of your threats. You have the police, vigilance bureau.do whatever you want, frame whatever case you want to,” Manpreet said in a video message. Manpreet was recently questioned by the vigilance bureau that had summoned him following a complaint by former MLA Sarup Chand Singla who had alleged irregularities in the purchase of a property in a prime location in Bathinda. Singla had alleged that Manpreet as a minister had abused his position by converting commercial plots into residential plots for himself. Earlier in the day, Mann said in Sangrur that Manpreet, who brought him into politics, has been booked for his "misdeeds". "When an FIR is also registered against Manpreet Badal then you know that I do not spare anyone. Manpreet says he brought me into politics. All right,” Mann said adding he continues to stand by his principles. Mann was once a close-aide of Manpreet and had joined the People's Party of Punjab (PPP), floated by the latter after quitting Shiromani Akali Dal, in 2011. The CM, who was addressing a gathering at the Maharaja Palace in Sunam under Sangrur district on the occasion of the 84th Martyrdom Day of freedom fighter Udham Singh, took a swipe at Manpreet saying he had taken a vow at the native village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh to serve the state but has forgotten about it. “He took the oath in the name of Shaheed Bhagat Singh but later went to the Congress and now he is in the BJP,” said Mann. Reacting to Mann's remarks, Manpreet accused him of making the statement to gain cheap publicity and asserted that he always stood by the principles of his erstwhile party PPP. “If anyone has remained stuck to the ideals of PPP, it is Manpreet and if someone backtracked from those ideals, it was you Bhagwant Mann,” Taking a swipe at Mann, Badal said the chief minister was travelling in a cavalcade, a helicopter and airplanes throughout the country like a 'mughliya shehzada' (Mughal prince). Earlier, Mann also attacked other former Congress leaders, including Sunil Jakhar, for switching allegiance to the BJP. “A few days ago, BJP leaders had gone to the Governor’s House. It was not clear as to whether they are Congressmen or from the BJP. Jakhar, who was the Punjab president of the Congress, is now the Punjab president of the BJP. So, what happened to all the BJP leaders? Do Congressmen think they can win after joining the BJP?” he asked. Talking about the legacy of Udham Singh, the Punjab CM recalled his visit to London when he said he had bowed before the stairs of Caxton Hall in Westminster. Udham Singh had climbed the building to reach the hall and kill Michael O’Dwyer, under whose tenure as Punjab’s Lieutenant Governor, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre had occurred in Amritsar, on April 13, 1919. “We got Independence from the Britishers… However, real Independence has not yet reached every house. Earlier, it was confined to the big palaces only while commoners continued to suffer but now the change is being seen,” Mann said. Talking about price rise, Mann said, “All of you pay taxes in one form or the other… for buying milk, tea leaves, sugar, gas lighter and even fuel. Modi ji has imposed taxes on flour as well with which you make rotis. When tax is being paid on every single item, then how come the treasury is empty? When they were in power, ‘khajana khali hai’ (the treasury is empty) was the only statement they made but have I ever said this? The treasury is not empty… we have funds. However, it is sad that they never knew how to run the system and manage finances.”
