No vendetta, but no pillows to be given to Majithia in jail: CM Mann
Continuing to target Majithia, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that as a fact of matter the Akali leader had continued the "dubious legacy" of his family to "backstab" Punjab and its people for their vested interests.
4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Jul 16, 2025 06:07 PM IST
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said that the state was being maligned irrespective of the fact that not even a single ounce of drug was produced in it.
(Source: File)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Tuesday said that Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia will not be given any pillow in the jail.
Participating in a debate on the drug menace on the concluding day of the Vidhan Sabha’s special session, Mann said, “Pillows will not be provided at all. (This is) No political vendetta. Facilities will be provided as per the jail rules”.
He said, “Those responsible for laying the pyres of youth in Punjab don’t deserve any sort of comfort in jail as they have to pay for their misdeeds. An investigation has revealed how many properties these people made. Strictest punishment will be ensured for these people.”
He claimed affluent leaders not only used to patronize drug trade across the state but even supplied the drugs in their official government vehicles.
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on June 25 arrested Majithia in a disproportionate assets case allegedly involving laundering of Rs 540 crore of “drug money”. He is currently in judicial remand and lodged in Nabha jail.
Without naming Majithia and his MLA wife Ganieve Kaur Majithia, who was not present in the House, CM said, “Where did Satta, Pindi, Bhola come from? Why were they taken in the government vehicles? “
“I assure the House that an exemplary punishment will be ensured for these leaders so that no one ever dares to commit this sin again. Nabha Jail has now become the synonym of ‘Çhitta’’as those who had introduced this drug to Punjab are now lodged there. Known for their opulence, acquired through illegal means, these leaders are now demanding facilities in the jail,” he said.
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Continuing to target Majithia, Mann said that as a fact of matter the Akali leader had continued the “dubious legacy” of his family to “backstab” Punjab and its people for their vested interests.
He said Majithia’s ancestors had “backstabbed” the people by holding a dinner for General Dyer on the same night the Jallianwala Bagh massacre was ordered by the British officer in 1919.
Mann said, “Somebody hosting him before the massacre was still understandable. But who hosts a man like him on the night of the massacre. These people are traitors,” Mann said.
Mann said Punjab was being defamed over the issue of drugs whereas various other states have this problem. Some forces inimical to the state had unleashed a “malicious” campaign to tarnish our image by labelling the hard working Punjabis as drug addicts, said Mann.
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As Punjab is fighting national war against the drugs due to which it was being defamed continuously despite immense contribution in every field, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the state was being maligned irrespective of the fact that not even a single ounce of drug was produced in it. He said the state’s security forces have recently confiscated a huge amount of drugs from Gujarat and Rajasthan.
However, Mann said that Yudh Nasheyan Virudh, embarked by the state government, has broken the backbone of the drug trade.
Defending delay in taking action against Majithia, Mann said, “We took time because we were trying to break the supply line. The patients would have suffered withdrawal. We made OOAT clinics, set up rehabs. Then we got to know Police is mixed up. Munshis used to tell that them that raid parties are coming to raid.”
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
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