THE NEWS FREEDOM
CHANDIGARH, MARCH 6
Describing the budget not simply as a booklet but as a sacred document, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned on Wednesday that it would serve as a catalyst for shaping a progressive, prosperous, and vibrant Punjab. Participating in discussions on the budget on the floor of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister remarked that the budget unveiled on Tuesday marked a historic milestone for the state. He emphasized the importance of welcoming suggestions and ideas from elected representatives in a healthy democracy, cautioning against undue criticism solely aimed at grabbing media attention. CM Mann reiterated that the budget symbolizes not only a mere booklet but also embodies the state government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of its people and the advancement of Punjab’s growth.
The Chief Minister said that it is not a compilation of facts and figures but it is the roadmap of progress and prosperity of the state. He said that people must come and join healthy politics adding that youth has to play an important role in the transformation of the Indian polity. CM said that the credit of transforming politics and bringing the common man to the agenda of the political parties goes to Arvind Kejriwal.
The Chief Minister said that instead of Sankalp Pattars or election manifestos, the political parties are now giving guarantees of welfare to the people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he had always been a votary of making the manifesto of any party into a legal document so that political parties may not dupe the common man. He said that people had been misled repeatedly by showing them ache din or that I am chowkidar and now saying my parijan (family) adding that similarly anti-defection law has been misused to favor the party in power at the centre.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has given more than 40,000 jobs to the youth of the state in various departments to empower the youth adding he urged the Speaker to provide detailed facts about it to opposition. Likewise, he said that 2487 youth will be given government jobs on Thursday during a function at Sangrur. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the opposition is unnecessary making hue and cry over the issue as they had never given government jobs to youth.
The Chief Minister said that they know well how to give free power, free education, and free health services to people but the opposition has only mastered the art of running away from core issues. He said that the opposition particularly Congress is habitual of acting irresponsibly and staging walkouts just to hog the media limelight. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Congress often says that many MLAs of AAP are in touch with them whereas it is a fact that they are not in touch with each other.