Kartarpur, August 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) of seeking an alliance with the BJP despite the deaths of hundreds of farmers during the farmers’ protest against the Centre’s farm laws, asserting that Punjab would never forget those who lost their lives during the agitation.
Addressing a Lok Milni at village Kahlwan in Kartarpur, Mann also targeted the Akalis and Congress, alleging that both parties lacked an agenda for Punjab and were driven primarily by the pursuit of power.
Taking a swipe at the Akali Dal’s reported efforts to revive ties with the BJP, Mann said the saffron party could not escape responsibility in the eyes of Punjab’s people for the deaths of more than 700 farmers during the farmers’ struggle.
“The Akali Dal is now begging for an alliance with the BJP, whose hands are drenched in the blood of more than 700 farmers who attained martyrdom while protesting against the draconian anti-farmer laws,” he said, adding that such an alliance had no ideology or concern for public welfare and was aimed only at capturing power in Punjab.
Mann also accused the Akali Dal of having patronised the drug trade during its previous tenure and alleged that the party had failed Punjab through its “misrule”.
“During their long misrule, the Akalis committed the sin of beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, shielded the perpetrators of this heinous crime and allowed firing on innocent people,” he alleged.
He claimed that successive governments had pushed Punjab’s youth towards drugs and said tackling the drug menace was among the reasons he entered politics.
Mann said the people had given the Aam Aadmi Party a historic mandate in 2022 by defeating several political heavyweights, including Parkash Singh Badal, Charanjit Singh Channi, Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu, even in their traditional strongholds.
He said his government had delivered several initiatives for the people, citing zero electricity bills for more than 90 per cent of households, daytime canal water for farmers and 70,840 government jobs provided without “bribe or recommendation”.
“Earlier, there was a ‘Government of Thieves’ where no work got done. Today, there is an ‘Honest Government’ and all the work is being done,” Mann said.
He said the government had also acquired the erstwhile GVK Thermal Power Plant for ₹1,080 crore and renamed it after Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, the Third Sikh Guru.
Mann said the state government was working on village development, education, healthcare, irrigation and infrastructure. He said 3,100 sports stadiums were being constructed to help divert young people from drugs, while 45,000 km of roads were being renovated and upgraded.
On irrigation, the Chief Minister said the area under canal irrigation had increased from 26 per cent when his government assumed office to 80 per cent.
Highlighting the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, Mann said the scheme provides cashless medical treatment of up to ₹10 lakh to every resident family of Punjab, describing it as a major initiative aimed at reducing the financial burden of healthcare.
He also highlighted the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, under which women above 18 years of age are to receive monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000, while eligible women from Scheduled Castes will receive ₹1,500. He said women already receiving social security pensions would also be eligible and that ₹9,300 crore had been allocated for the scheme.
Mann said the first instalment under the scheme would reach beneficiaries’ bank accounts on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan, and urged eligible women who had not yet registered to enrol.
Earlier, sharing snippets from the Lok Milni on X, Mann said the event at Kahlwan had witnessed an overwhelming response from residents. He also announced a ₹51 lakh grant to the village panchayat for development works.
MLA Balkar Singh, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and other officials were present at the event.
FOLLOW NOW
