Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday inaugurated 154 new Aam Aadmi Clinics, taking their total number in the state to 1,244, and warned that a change of government could jeopardise welfare initiatives, including free bus travel for women, healthcare coverage and monthly financial assistance.
Addressing a public gathering at Harkhowal village in the Chabbewal Assembly constituency, Mann asserted that his government's priority was to provide quality healthcare, education and employment rather than engage in what he described as the opposition's "politics of slogans".
With Assembly elections scheduled for early next year, the Chief Minister launched a sharp attack on the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accusing them of attempting to discredit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's welfare programmes.
Mann claimed that opposition parties wanted to discontinue Aam Aadmi Clinics, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 for women and free bus travel because they could not accept the government's public welfare initiatives.
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ญ,๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐
Announcing the expansion of the state's primary healthcare infrastructure, Mann said the addition of 154 facilities would improve access to medical services, particularly for people who struggle to afford private treatment.
"Today, 154 new Aam Aadmi Clinics have been dedicated to the people of Punjab. With this, the total number of these clinics in Punjab has reached 1,244," he said.
According to the Chief Minister, Aam Aadmi Clinics have recorded more than 6.48 crore outpatient department (OPD) visits since their introduction.
He said the facilities were providing free medicines, diagnostic tests and consultations, reducing the financial burden on patients and improving access to healthcare.
Of the newly inaugurated clinics, 36 are in Amritsar, 26 in Patiala, 17 in Ludhiana, 12 in Gurdaspur, 11 in Jalandhar and 10 in SAS Nagar (Mohali).
Mann maintained that expanding the network of clinics was part of the government's broader strategy to strengthen primary healthcare services across Punjab.
๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐น๐ฎ๐ธ๐ต ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฐ.๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐น๐ฎ๐ธ๐ต ๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐
Highlighting the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, Mann said the programme provided healthcare coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh to 54.20 lakh families across the state.
He claimed that nearly eight lakh beneficiaries had already received treatment under the scheme.
The Chief Minister said the programme was intended to ensure that families did not face financial hardship while seeking medical treatment.
He reiterated that the government's priorities were healthcare for citizens, education for children and employment opportunities for young people.
Mann contrasted these initiatives with what he described as the previous governments' failure to address the everyday needs of Punjab's residents.
"The historic mandate given by the people of Punjab has placed a tremendous responsibility on our shoulders, and we are fulfilling our promises through concrete action," he said.
๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ด๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐
In remarks carrying political significance ahead of the Assembly elections, Mann cautioned voters against supporting parties that, according to him, could reverse the welfare measures introduced by the AAP administration.
He alleged that rival parties were uncomfortable with the popularity of government initiatives and were attempting to undermine them through political attacks.
The Chief Minister claimed that successive governments had used political power to benefit a limited number of families and influential individuals.
"Earlier, power was treated as a means to benefit some families and select individuals, but today, governance revolves around the common people, their aspirations and their welfare," he said.
Mann asserted that his administration had shifted the focus of governance towards public services and the needs of ordinary citizens.
"The winds of development are blowing across Punjab, and no conspiracy by the opposition can stop this transformation," he added.
He also said that political attacks would not deter him from continuing the government's programmes.
"They may resort to any number of malicious tactics to defame us, but as long as I have the love and trust of the people, I have nothing to fear from them," Mann said.
๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐, ๐๐ธ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฝ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ
Targeting the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mann claimed that the party was struggling to retain its political relevance despite having previously projected itself as a long-term governing force in Punjab.
"The Akali Dal once claimed that it would govern Punjab for 25 years, but today it is struggling to maintain its political relevance," he said.
He accused previous Akali governments of failing to protect Punjab's youth from drug abuse and claimed that incidents of sacrilege had severely damaged the party's credibility.
Turning to the Congress, Mann alleged that its leaders were divided and unable to present a coherent vision for Punjab.
"Congress leaders are unable to present a united front even on matters concerning Punjab's future," he said.
He claimed that opposition parties were joining forces against AAP because they lacked a credible alternative agenda.
"Those who ruled Punjab for years and failed to fulfil the aspirations of its people are now unable to tolerate the work being done by the AAP government," Mann said.
๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ด๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐
The Chief Minister asserted that Punjab's voters had rejected what he described as corruption, nepotism and politics driven by personal enrichment.
He said people now expected accountable governance and measurable improvements in public services.
Mann urged residents to remain vigilant against attempts to mislead them about the government's policies and achievements.
"The trust and blessings of the people are our greatest political strength," he said.
Reiterating his administration's commitment to public welfare, Mann said the expansion of Aam Aadmi Clinics, availability of free medicines and diagnostic tests, and implementation of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna reflected the government's efforts to make healthcare more accessible and affordable.
He maintained that these initiatives, alongside improvements in education and employment, would remain central to the AAP government's agenda as Punjab approached the next Assembly elections.