Chandigarh, March 20
After the cabinet expansion of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the party’s Punjab affairs co-in-charge Raghav Chadha, on Sunday, held a meeting with all their MLAs of Punjab. Kejriwal attended the meeting through video conferencing and addressed the MLAs and explained the party’s objectives and working methods.
Addressing the AAP MLAs, Kejriwal said that after winning elections in four states, BJP’s new Chief Ministers haven’t taken oath, let alone any work of the people. Our Bhagwant Mann saheb became the Chief Minister and has also taken many historic decisions for the people. CM Mann has done tremendous work for the people of Punjab in the last three days. In his first cabinet meeting, 25000 government jobs have been announced for the youth of Punjab, this has raised hope among the people.
Kejriwal said that I am not congratulating all my MLAs and ministers of Punjab, I am wishing them all the best, so that they can serve the public with full dedication and can live up to the expectations of the people. On many senior MLAs not becoming ministers in the cabinet expansion, Kejriwal said that those MLAs who are not given ministries, should not underestimate themselves. They are all special to me. The people of Punjab have elected 92 diamonds of the Aam Aadmi Party and sent them to the assembly. Do such good work for the people of your constituency that the people themselves would give you love and prestige.
Kejriwal said that all the MLAs-Ministers have to work as a team under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Chief Minister will give work targets to all the ministers. Everyone has to achieve those targets. If a minister repeatedly fails to meet his target, he will be replaced. Kejriwal said that instead of staying in Chandigarh, all the MLAs should go to villages and mohallas of their constituencies with AAP workers and leaders of their community. Listen to people’s problems and work for them. I stand with you as an elder brother and will always be your guide.
Giving advice to all the MLAs and Ministers, he said that the most important thing for us is to work honestly. I will tolerate everything, but I will not tolerate corruption and theft of public money. Kejriwal said that the people of Punjab have given us historical majority to work, not to earn money. People have chosen us after being fed up with the theft and corruption of Congress-Akali leaders. We have to work honestly so that people always choose us. Do not do anything that will upset the public.
Instructing the MLAs to stay away from transfer-posting of police officers, Kejriwal said that they must go to the DC office to get people’s work done, but not for transfer-posting. If anyone did this, strict action would be taken against him. If any officer does not work, or does not listen to you, then report it to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister will take action or do transferring. In the previous government, there was rampant corruption in transfer-posting. We have to eliminate it and make the system right and corruption free. If any MLA-Minister did not fulfill his target, then he will get more chance to do the work, but if he does corruption then there will be no second chances.
Kejriwal adviced MLAs to not misbehave with the police-administration, government teachers and employees. Treat everyone with love. These government teachers brought education revolution in Delhi. Now you have the power of the pen. Therefore, not by intimidation, by using the power of the pen, remove the disturbances of the police-administration. We have to work together with these government employees and change the system by creating a fear-free and corruption-free environment.
Addressing the AAP MLAs, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann said that we have to use the huge majority given to us by the people of Punjab for the betterment of the people. People have chosen us to work. The people of Punjab were fed up with the corruption and mafia rule of Congress-SAD-BJP. That’s why the big stalwarts of the rival parties were defeated by the people and our ordinary candidates won with a thumping majority. We have to understand the meaning of this victory and work for the people and take Punjab on the path of progress.
CM Mann said that people have made me the Chief Minister and handed over a green pen to solve their issues. We have used that green pen on the very first day itself to remove the problems of unemployed youth. In future also, this pen will be used for the livelihood and comfort of the people. We will issue the notification of 25000 government jobs which we have announced in our first cabinet meeting within 25 days. Appealing to all the MLAs, Mann said that do not recommend anyone wrongly for the job, it takes away the rights of the deserving youth. There may be thousands of qualified people who you do not have access to, but who do have the qualifications for the job. Our government was formed to protect the rights of the people, not to take them away.
Mann said that people have high expectations from us, so treat everyone with love, do not misbehave with anyone. People of all sections have voted for us, be it farmers, youth, traders, lawyers or government employees. Everyone came together to form the government of Aam Aadmi Party. So listen to people without discrimination and solve their problems.
Mann warned the MLAs that the performance of AAP MLAs in Delhi is surveyed. All the MLAs whose survey report comes negative, their tickets are cut. In the Delhi Assembly elections held in 2020, the tickets of 22 such MLAs were cut. Such surveys will also be conducted about the work of the MLAs in Punjab. So all MLAs should open a permanent office in their constituency and be present there. Listen to people’s problems and try to solve them on time. Whatever time you give to people to meet, in any case be there at that time. Understand the value of your own time and also respect people’s time. If you want to confirm your seat next time, then simply do your job and do people’s work. Always stay in your constituency and listen to the problems of the people.
Mann said that our target is to win the race and touch point of this race means Rangla Punjab. Rangala Punjab means Punjab of Gurus’ Dreams, Punjab of Martyrs’ Dreams, Punjab of Writers-Poets. Referring to a statement by Nelson Mandela, Mann said that a leader is one who stands behind in times of public happiness and ahead in times of sorrow. We should also put the happiness of people ahead of our own.
