“The work will start from today itself. We will not waste even a single day. We are already late by 70 years,” he said.
KHATKAR KALAN, Punjab: Aam Aadmi Party leader Bhagwant Mann was sworn in as the Punjab Chief Minister at a mega event in Punjab’s Khatkar Kalan, Bhagat Singh’s ancestral village.
Mann was administered the oath by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit.
The AAP registered a landslide victory in recently concluded Punjab Assembly polls, winning 92 seats, pushing most of its rivals to the margins. Congress won 18 seats in the 117-member Assembly.
Bhagwant Mann, who was contesting from Dhuri Assembly constituency in Sangrur district, won by a margin of 58,206 votes over Congress’ Dalvir Singh Goldy.
At the swearing-in ceremony at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Bhagat Singh, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters turned up in ‘basanti’ turbans and dupattas, the colour associated with the freedom fighter.
Besides the newly-elected Punjab AAP MLAs, Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Delhi minister Satyendra Jain, and other leaders wearing yellow turbans were present.
In his first speech after becoming the chief minister, Mann assured the people of the state that his party’s government in Punjab would work to address issues such as unemployment, corruption and farmers’ plight.
“The work will start from today itself. We will not waste even a single day. We are already late by 70 years,” he said.
He promised that the condition of government schools and hospitals in the state will be improved like it has been done by the AAP government in Delhi.
Mann said people will visit Punjab just like they visit Delhi to see its schools and mohalla clinics. Before ending his speech with ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ and ‘Jo Bole So Nihal’, Mann quoted another verse: “Hukumatvokartehainjinkadilon par raj hotahai, yun to kehne ko murgekesarpe bhitaajhotahai (The ones who rule are those who rule hearts, crowns even rest on roosters’ heads).”
Reiterating his commitment to make Punjab a model state, Mann said the foremost concern of his government would be to create abundant job opportunities for the state youth to check the unfortunate trend of brain drain from our state to foreign shores. He said: “This scenario has even forced poor and hapless parents to sell their properties for sending their wards abroad for better prospects to earn livelihood.” He promised his government would soon come up with a comprehensive action plan to generate tremendous job potential for unemployed youth on priority.
Thanking people for attending the oath-taking ceremony in large numbers, Mann said earlier, the swearing-in ceremonies used to take place at cricket stadiums or Raj Bhawans. “Now this oath-taking ceremony is held at the village of a martyr,” he said, adding that Khatkar Kalan was not new for him as he had visited it many times.
“Bhagat Singh had dreamt of freedom and the AAP is fighting to take that freedom to the common people,” he said.
However, Bhagat Singh was concerned about who would take over the reins of the country once it got free. “His (Bhagat Singh) concern proved to be right,” said Mann, adding that those who ruled the country for 70 years did nothing.
“To love is the birthright of everyone, why not make your country your beloved,” Mann said quoting Bhagat Singh as he asked the people to “love the country’s soil”.
Expressing gratitude for the huge mandate given to the AAP, Mann said, “We are among you and we will remain like this.” He said the people of Punjab have created history.
“In coming years, it will be taught in schools that people voted without any fear or greed on February 20, 2022 (Punjab election),” said Mann on the huge mandate given to the AAP.
He thanked Kejriwal, saying the AAP is improving the country’s politics.
He also advised AAP volunteers not to be arrogant or use objectionable language against anyone.
Mann said his government will also work for those who did not vote for the AAP.
Meanwhile, a number of singers and artists, including GurdasMaan, Karamjit Anmol, singer-turned-politician and Congress MP Mohammad Sadique, and Amar Noorie, were present at the event.
A day after taking oath, Mann announced the launch of an anti-corruption helpline to enable the people to expose corrupt officials.
In a video message, he said the helpline, to be launched on March 23, the martyrdom day of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, would be his “personal WhatsApp number”.
The CM said, “This initiative will enable the people of Punjab to lodge complaints about corruption on WhatsApp. This is a major decision to root out the (graft) menace from Punjab. People can upload audio or video clips of corrupt officials asking for a bribe or indulging in other malpractices.”
