Chandigarh, 6 March 2022
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Chief Ministerial candidate and Member of Parliament Bhagwant Mann has alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inciting and trying to provoke the people of the state by continuously implementing anti-Punjab decisions. A recent example of this is the robbery of the post of Managing Director of a business entity in the state capital Chandigarh, Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO). Mann appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop implementing anti-Punjab decisions and refrain from any attempt to provoke the people of Punjab as Punjab is a border state and people have been suffering from atrocities for a long time.
In a statement issued from the party headquarters on Sunday, Bhagwant Mann said that in Punjab Assembly elections, the Narendra Modi government had consistently implemented anti-Punjab decisions which was causing displeasure among the Punjabis against the Modi government. “The BJP government at the Center is taking away the state’s rights and claims. Following the abolition of Punjab’s representation in Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and removal of Punjab Police from protection of dams, the Modi Government has now robbed Punjab of the post of Managing Director of Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO). Also, a few days ago about 112 doctors from Punjab were expelled from the Chandigarh Health Department.
Bhagwant Mann said that under the Punjab Reorganization Act, 60 per cent share of Punjab was reserved in all kinds of services and management in Chandigarh. He alleged that the Modi government was forcibly abolishing the deputation of officers and employees of Punjab. That’s why officer of Punjab cadre Jaswinder Kaur was removed from MD and centre cadre Poorva Garg has been appointed in her place. Which is wrong and against Punjab. Mann said that earlier Congress governments at the Center were robbing Punjab and now Modi led BJP was following their footsteps. Plundering a state’s rights is a direct blow to India’s federal system.
Bhagwant Mann blamed former Chief Ministers Parkash Singh Badal and Capt. Amarinder Singh for their atrocities committed against Punjab who had never raised their voice against the decisions attacking the rights of Punjab. He challenged the former ally of BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal Badal and the current allies Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Capt. Amarinder Singh to stop the Modi government from robbing Punjab off of its rights. He said that Aam Aadmi Party was committed to the protection and restoration of the rights of Punjab and the government of Aam Aadmi Party will always take pro-Punjab decisions.
