Journalism of Courage
Bhagwant Mann took oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Punjab on Wednesday. At the swearing-in ceremony at Bhagat Singh’s village Khatkar Kalan, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters turned up in ‘basanti’ turbans and dupattas, the colour commonly associated with the freedom fighter. (ANI)
In his first address after being sworn in as the Punjab CM, Bhagwant Mann said that like Bhagat Singh and other freedom fighters, the AAP is also fighting to take freedom to the people."It will take many lives to pay back the love we have got from you. We are also the government for those who didn't vote for us and we will work for them too," Mann added.
All arrangements were made for the swearing-in ceremony of Mann at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Punjab's Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar district. AAP had asked people to turn up in ‘basanti’ turbans and dupattas at a venue that prominently showcases this colour — one commonly associated with the freedom fighter. (PTI)
The ‘pandal’, with yellow drapes and 50,000 chairs, has been set up on 40 acres land near the Bhagat Singh memorial in the village in Nawanshahr district. A government official said at least 4 lakh people can sit on the chairs and the ground. (Express)
People bought 'basanti' (yellow) colour cloth for turban, a day before Bhagwant Mann's oath taking ceremony, in Amritsar, Tuesday.(PTI)
Aam Aadmi Party’s senior leader Raghav Chadha was seen with Bhagwant Mann ahead of the swearing-in ceremony. (Twitter/@RaghavChadda)
AAP supporters make way to the Khatkar Kalan village wearing yellow turbans. (Express photo by Kanchan Vasdev)
Langars were organised in many parts of Punjab on the day of Bhagwant Mann's swearing-in ceremony. At one of the services in Ropar, people were being served tea and jalebi. (Express)
Ashok Kumar Sharma, 68, cycled from Kharar to Khatkar Kalan, a distance of 80 km, to reach the venue where AAP's Bhagwant Mann will be sworn in as the 18th Chief Minister of Punjab. (Express)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other senior party leaders took part in the swearing-in ceremony. The Aam Aadmi Party romped home winning 92 seats in the 117-member Punjab Assembly, decimating the Congress and the SAD-BSP combine. (Express photo)
"Ishq karna sabka paidaishi haq hai, kyun na is baar watan ki sarzamin ko mehboob bana liya jaye," said the new Punjab CM, quoting Bhagat Singh, in whose ancestral village the swearing-in-ceremony took place.
A young boy dressed up as Bhagwant Mann at the oath taking ceremony in Khatkar Kalan. 'Basanti Rang' or Yellow was the theme of the venue.
"Many veteran politicians have lost the elections, and new people have won. I am sure new ideas will come in the state. There will be out of the box thinking in this government," Mann said in his first address, after taking the oath of the office.
The comedian-turned-politician was congratulated by a host of leaders, from Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
