Punjab Open Debate Live Updates: Bhagwant Mann at Dr Manmohan Singh Auditorium in Ludhiana. (Photo: Screenshot/Bhagwant Mann Youtube channel)Bhagwant Mann Open Debate at Punjab Agricultural University Highlights: After zero attendance by the top opposition leaders of Punjab at the open debate with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, he asked had they got anything against the CM, wouldn’t they have come? “It takes guts to invite people an open debate. I gave them (Oppn parties) 25 days to prepare. Had they got anything against me, wouldn’t they have come?”
Mann, who had challenged the leaders SAD, BJP, Congress and other leaders for the discussion, was seen sitting alone on the stage decked up for the programme that the opposition leaders decided to skip. The city, meanwhile, has turned into a fortress with the deployment of heavy police force amid concerns over a possible law and order situation.
Farmers, teachers, and others who reached at the PAU gates in the morning to participate in the debate were denied entry and detained on registering their protest. Even as Mann earlier wanted to include general public in the event, the AAP government made a flip flop on the decision, and said the event would remain closed for the common man and media. The debate was supposed to centre around various issues concerning the state such as Punjab’s loot in the past, nepotism, the 2015 sacrilege case, river water-sharing, agriculture, and youth welfare among others.
Farmers, at the PAU gate, not allowed entry for the debate. (Expres Photo)
Rajwinder Singh Rana, head of Nasha Virodhi Manch, said youths are still dying of drugs and those raise voice against smugglers, are arrested or murdered. "The CM invited everyone to ask questions. We had come to ask what they have done against drugs.”
Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring slams the debate as a one man show, says it’s just a ploy to divert the attention of Punjab as those who wanted to take part in it were whisked away by the police
"If people have defeated those three (Cong, Akali Dal and BJP), it doesn’t mean their misdeeds have been forgiven," Mann says.
"It takes guts to invite people to this debate. I gave them (Oppn parties) 25 days to prepare. Had they got anything against me, wouldn’t they have come," Mann says.
Chief Minister Mann says his govt is doing its utmost to promote 'ma boli' Punjabi. Candidates for state exams are required to get at least 50 per cent in Punjabi in matriculation.
Stating that he was stumped by the ploys being adopted by corrupt officials to get bribes, Mann pointed out he got the revenue officers to write registers in simple Punjabi as earlier officials were using complicated language to befool citizens.
Bhagwant Mann speaks at length on the various achievements of his government, says they shut down 14 toll plazas
CM Bhagwant Mann addresses the audience at the auditorium, says Akali Dal and Congress responsible for Satluj-Yamuna Link canal.
Supporters of slain singer Sidhu Moosewala detained. They came with a photo of Moosewala with a caption “hai koi jawaab?”
Talking about Congress's tenure in Punjab, Mann says, "Transport kha gaye, maximum toll plazas came up during Capt Amarinder’s first tenure especially when Partap Bajwa was the PWD minister."
"He forgets the next day what he says today," says CM Bhagwant Mann while pointing towards Sukhbir Badal’s empty chair. "I invited him because he is president of his party. Otherwise such people are not invited for such debates. Those people who do not know what to say. They don’t know whether Ghanaur is in Faridkot or in Patiala," says Mann referring to Sukhbir Badal.
Representatives of Punjab Nasha Virodhi Manch, a front against drugs, not allowed entry.
None of the top leaders from opposition parties in Punjab have turned up for the open debate with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at Dr Manmohan Singh Auditorium in Ludhiana’s Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. Mann, who had challenged the leaders SAD, BJP, Congress and other leaders for the discussion, was seen sitting alone on the stage decked up for the programme.
Harish Rai Dhandha, vice president of Shiromani Akali Dal, talks about the 'chaos', heightened security outside the venue of the 'cordial' debate.
Sippy Sharma, from 646 Physical Training Instructors (PTI) union, whom Kejriwal had called his “sister” and promised hiring, reaches the venue of the open debate. “The only demand today is to let us sit inside and attend the debate,” she says.
Security beefed up at PAU gates amid concerns over a possible law and order situation. (Express Photos)
The members of unemployed multipurpose health workers and B.Ed TET pass protesters taken away in police bus.
A group of farmers, belonging to Krantikari Kisan Union, too reached the venue to attend the debate. The Punjab Police detained them ahead of the event. (Express Photo)
Even as the debate has been closed for general public, a number teachers turned up at the PAU gates to attend. They have been detained by the Punjab Police. (Express Photo)
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