Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann: ‘Both want to be elected PM and CM first’

Mann said that Sidhu and Rahul are alike. “They have a similar problem. Both want to be elected PM and CM first before they can perform. But people of the country are also adamant. They want both to perform first,” he said.

Without naming Sidhu, he said, “One of them is saying he should be the CM, otherwise he will just continue to work on TV. I was also on TV. Have I done a favour to Punjab by quitting?”

His regret about Sidhu, he said, was that he did not perform. “I am no one to give a certificate on honesty, I have no document to prove their honesty or otherwise. If I had anything, I would have made it public. I have a regret. He was the local bodies minister. He could have changed the face of the cities,” Mann said.

“Then he was given the portfolio of power. He accuses his then CM, Captain Amarinder Singh, of not allowing him to work. He should have prepared a proposal to give 600 units of power free to people, the way we did it. Had Amarinder stopped him, he could have gone to the people and told him about it. But he did not sign any file. In contrast, I have signed 12,500 files. I start signing files at 7.30 am. These are the same officers. They bring a small truck to carry the files signed by me. I am working for people. I work with the intent of helping them,” he added.

Mann hits out at Opposition

Mann, who was at his comical best, did not spare any Opposition leader. Taking a dig at former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Mann called him a CM for “1.75 km, from his residence in Sector 2 in Chandigarh to Punjab Raj Bhawan. Then they called him to say that they had changed their mind.” He was referring to September 2021, when Congress replaced Amarinder with Charanjit Singh Channi. Channi was declared chief minister when Randhawa was on his way to Raj Bhawan to take the oath.

Channi had alleged this week that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had printed 100 ballot papers extra in every Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti zone going to polls on Sunday, with stamps of AAP candidates.

Mann said the disclosure of Rs 500 crore by Dr Sidhu had made everyone happy except Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa and Randhawa. “Channi was happy that he paid Rs 350 crore to become the CM, and he was able to save Rs 150 crore. The figure quoted by Dr Sidhu has made Rahul happy as he thinks the price tag has gone up. Warring, Randhawa and Bajwa are now unhappy as they feel the price has gone up and they have to find a way to try a shot,” he added.

On the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), he said the SAD (Badal) was no longer SAD (B). “It was SAD (Beadbi, meaning sacrilege), and it was SAD (Badmash). They were giving tickets to relatives of gangsters. Now, the family is seen campaigning in the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections. Earlier, they never considered these elections worthy enough to campaign,” Mann said.

“Now, Sukhbir Singh Badal is on the roads on a motorbike. Biba ji (Harsimrat Badal) is also on the ground…as is their son. People have brought them to the ground. Leading in two rounds in the Tarn Taran byelection has made them claim a revival of SAD. They do not know that people will never elect them. They have realised these leaders used to take turns to come to power,” Mann said.

Not sparing Captain Amarinder either, Mann said, “Now he is saying the BJP does not listen to him. Why doesn’t he resign? He is now liking the Congress. Because he used to scare the Congress leaders.

He said the Congress, the BJP, and the Akalis were backing several candidates together. “In the morning, SAD leaders campaign for a candidate. In the evening, other party leaders are seen asking for votes for him. Then they accuse the AAP government of excesses. Why are they not boycotting the elections?” he asked, urging people to see through their designs.