Two policemen on ‘shoe duty’ for Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann during Muktsar visit trigger political row

The unusual order drew sharp criticism from Opposition leaders.

BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal said, “Security is deputed ahead of any CM’s visit in and around any religious organisation in plain clothes or in uniform, but never put on duty to guard the shoes of a CM. This is the height of hypocrisy of the CM who claims to be an Aam Aadmi.”

Taking to X, Baliawal wrote, “Police on duty for the boots, police on duty for the boots! There are boots worth lakhs, my dear—but no one dares to quietly take them away! During Chief Minister Mann’s visit to Sri Muktsar Sahib, two police personnel will be assigned to look after Mann Sahib’s boots. The boys from ordinary homes find that these boots look as expensive as something out of a Jazzy B song!”

Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu also took a swipe at the chief minister. Posting in Punjabi on his Facebook page, he wrote, “Maharaja Satoj, you can make as many people guard your shoes, but now it’s the people who will target you with these.”

The Indian Express tried contacting Akhil Chaudhary, Senior Superintendent of Police, Muktsar, for a response, but he could not be reached.

Chief Minister Mann was in Sri Muktsar Sahib on Sunday to lay the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 138.83 crore under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme. The projects aim to upgrade the city’s old sewerage and water supply system and lay new pipelines in newly developed areas, among other civic works.

Mann, while addressing a gathering at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Sri Muktsar Sahib, indirectly responded to the controversy. He said, “Do these political opponents have any roadmap for Punjab? Our slippers and shoes have become an issue for them… Even the suits of our mothers and sisters are an issue for them. These are the kinds of matters they are left with now.”

Rs 90.68 crore for sewerage works

Meanwhile, Muktsar MLA Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar, in a statement issued on Saturday, said that Rs 90.68 crore had been approved for sewerage works and Rs 48.14 crore for water supply under the same project. He said that about 149.67 km of sewer lines had already been laid in the city, which also has three sewerage treatment plants (with a total capacity of 17.9 MLD) and seven pumping stations.

Brar added that Sri Muktsar Sahib’s sewerage system was very old and had outlived its designed life, causing frequent blockages. Some newly developed areas still lack proper facilities. To address these issues, the Government has approved a Rs 90.68 crore project to improve the system and provide 100 per cent sewerage coverage to new localities. This project, he said, will directly benefit 10,501 households and around 52,505 residents.

Brar further stated that the city’s water supply scheme was based on canal water, with about 219 km of pipelines, four water treatment plants (with a total capacity of 29.46 MLD), and nine overhead tanks. The main waterworks are located on Kotkapura Road, Tibbi Sahib Road, and at Chak Bir Sarkar.

A provision of Rs 17.15 crore has also been made for the restoration of roads and municipal streets that will be dug up during the project’s execution. With the completion of these works, the historic city will have a permanent solution to its sewerage and drinking water-related problems, officials said.