Tearing into opposition parties, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that voting for opposition parties by mistake will shut down all pro-people schemes, and alleged that the Congress and the Akali Dal had "hollowed out the state like termites".
He also said that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is once again eager to join hands with the BJP to "loot" the state.
Mann warns voters against Opposition parties
During his 'Lok Milni' programme here, Mann said the Opposition is fighting for political power while his government is focused on delivering quality education, healthcare, roads, electricity and water to the people, warning that "a vote for opposition parties by mistake will shut down all pro-people schemes".
He alleged that the opposition parties have committed many "sins" against Punjab and its people, and said the voters would this time bring an end to their political existence.
Addressing a gathering, Mann said, "The traditional parties are envious of me because I hail from a common family and am working tirelessly to ensure the welfare of the people. These leaders had always believed that they have a divine right to rule the state, due to which they are not able to digest that a common man is running the state efficiently.
"They have fooled the people for a long time, but now people are not getting swayed by their misleading propaganda."
Attack on Akalis and BJP
Lashing out at the Akali leadership, he alleged, "The Akali leadership which committed sacrilege, which destroyed the evidence related to its perpetrators, which ordered firing on innocents along with other sins, is dying to come back into power in the state."
He alleged that for this purpose, the Akali leadership is "begging" to join hands with the BJP leadership to "plunder" the state, but the wise people of Punjab would once again reject them.
"The wise people of the state will again oust them. Punjabis will send Akalis and BJP into political oblivion due to their sins against the state and its people," he said.
Mann said baffled by their repeated debacles in the state, the Akalis were now "misusing" religion to mislead the people.
"They are even trying to take political mileage by garnering sympathy from the attack that took place on Sukhbir Singh Badal at Sri Hazur Sahib. They are actually paying for their sins against Punjab and its people and can never be forgiven by the people," he said.
Mann defends AAP government's schemes
Mann said the AAP government started several pro-people schemes due to which people of Punjab loved his government.
"Our government has started many pro-people schemes due to which the people of the state love me. I caution the people that in case any other party is voted to power, they will discontinue the schemes started by my government," he said.
Taking a jibe at the infighting in the Congress party, he said, "While they are squabbling for power for their vested political interests, the state government is working tirelessly for the well-being of the people. As compared to these opportunist leaders, we don't fight amongst ourselves but are making tireless efforts to make 'Rangla' Punjab."
Congress faces criticism over infighting
He said the fight of the state is for quality education, good health and other welfare schemes. For the sake of power, the Congress leaders do not see eye to eye with each other, he said.
Mann alleged that the Congress had no vision for the people and the state, and its only aim was to assume power and plunder the wealth of Punjab.
"Their dreams will never get fulfilled. The Congress party is a divided house that will collapse due to their infighting," he said, taking a dig at the Congress leadership.
‘Congress, Akali Dal ruined Punjab’: Mann
The Congress and the Akali Dal were the "termite" that ruined the state after Independence, due to which Punjab lagged on the path of progress, he alleged.
Mann said the leaders of these parties never speak against each other but "spit venom against me daily because I have exposed them badly before the people". These were the traitors who have never been loyal to Punjab and its people, he said.