Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann criticises ex-finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, targets ‘party-hopping’ spree

On Monday, Mann said: “He (Badal) is now saying that he brought me into politics… alright. But I am standing tall on my principles even now, what about him? He took the oath of martyr Bhagat Singh (when he was in the People’s Party of Punjab) and later went to the Congress and now he is in the BJP.”

The chief minister was addressing a gathering at the Maharaja Palace in Sunam under Sangrur district Monday on the occasion of the 84th Martyrdom Day of freedom fighter Udham Singh.

He also attacked other former Congress leaders, including Sunil Jakhar, for switching allegiance to the BJP.

Mann said, “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 as the majority of the Congress is moving towards the BJP.”

“Sunil Jakhar, who was the Punjab president of the Congress, is now the Punjab president of the BJP. So, what happened to all the BJP guys who were there from the start? 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… When people like Manpreet Singh Badal are also questioned, then you know that azaadi (freedom) is there in the true sense,” 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.”

Interestingly, while the Punjab CM targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for imposing GST on most items, he did not mention that his government, too, has hiked the excise duty on fuel twice in the past year.

Meanwhile, he also said everyone will be compensated for damages incurred during the recent flood.

He said: “The Opposition is asking us to seek funds from the Centre. But why should I? We have disaster management funds and will use them. The Centre knows about the disaster situation in Punjab and should do its bit. Why should we keep begging from the Centre?”