Ludhiana, Jun 21: BJP president Nitin Nabin on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government, calling it a “curse” for Punjab and urged people of the state to throw it out of power in the 2027 assembly elections.
Nabin, who is on a three-day visit to Punjab, asserted that it was only the BJP which could put the state on the development path.
Targeting Chief Minister Mann over the issue of an alleged objectionable video, Nabin said it is painful that a CM has “disrespected Gurus this way”.
“The people of Punjab will not tolerate this. Time has come to give punishment and rid the state of this ‘kalankit sarkar’ (tainted government). I am saying this because people of Punjab have always kept the respect of Gurus above everything,” he said.
Addressing a gathering of party’s ‘Shakti Kendra’ in-charges here this evening, Nabin said, “Punjab’s development could only be done by the BJP and with this belief, we will move forward, assuring people that if ‘Lotus’ blooms in the next elections, it will bring prosperity to every household.”
He said from two parliamentary seats in 1984, the BJP today became the largest party in the world. “In Punjab also, we have two MLAs,” he said as he expressed confidence that the BJP would form the government in the state in 2027.
Nabin said he also believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi resides in the hearts of the people of Punjab, and that Punjab will demonstrate this in the coming elections.
Attacking party rivals, he said Punjab has been cheated by many fraudsters. “Some people used Punjab as their ATMs.”
Nabin said there was a time when “jungle raj” prevailed in Bihar where people used to get killed over small amounts of money. He alleged that the AAP government has shattered the dreams of the youth and finished culture of the state.
“We must resolve to save Punjab,” he said.
The BJP chief said Punjab could have become a hub of manufacturing through MSME but it has been turned into a “centre of drugs”.
“I want to ask what sin did Punjab’s youths commit. Did they fall short in supporting this government? But they did not know this government would play with their future,” said Nabin as he attacked the Mann government.
“I want to ask the people of Punjab that don’t you think that this government be thrown out and don’t you feel that it should be removed from power. This government has come as a curse for Punjab and the time has come to remove this curse,” he said while urging people to bring the BJP to power.
The Punjab assembly polls are due early next year. The BJP has already said that it will contest the elections on its own.
Asking party workers to take the “failures” of the state government to people, he attacked the Mann government over the law and order issue and the drug menace. He asked party workers to highlight the “spate of murders”, and how a trade of drugs and black marketing are taking place in the state.
Nabin claimed that the Centre sent Rs 1.87 lakh crore for Punjab’s development in the last 10-12 years.
“We have shown great concern for this state and we tried to give a lot for this state’s development but the (AAP) government here only tried to cheat it.
“Our government gave Rs 1.87 lakh crore for Punjab’s development in the last 10-12 years. But we know that if ‘bandarbaat’ (misuse of funds) of this money was done, it was the government here which did it. An account of each penny will be taken,” he said.
“This money was not meant for anybody’s ‘ayashi’ (luxury), this money was not meant for becoming an ATM for someone,” he said without taking name of anyone.
“I want Punjab to get back its glory,” he said as he expressed concern over sports and manufacturing sectors.
“I ask all workers to take a pledge that we will end drugs from each village and town in Punjab,” he said.
He alleged that Punjab’s pride was used as a “political stunt” as he targeted rival parties.
“We are running government in 22 states and taking them forward on the development track. I assure the people that we will also develop Punjab the same way,” he said.
For the BJP, “Sarbat da bhala” (welfare of all) is not a term but is its objective, he said.
Speaking on Punjab’s challenges, he raised the issue of state’s burgeoning debt.
“I came to know that this government drowned the state into massive debt, which is over Rs 4 lakh crore,” he claimed.
The AAP government does not have any revenue model and it is least bothered about whether any infrastructure growth is taking place or new industry or investment is coming to the state, he alleged.
“If the BJP is voted to power, we will take Punjab out of this debt with our revenue model and development model and will move forward in the direction of building a developed Punjab,” he said.
Nabin said he knows that the BJP needs to do a lot in Punjab. “Many of my friends in the media and many of my colleagues have been asking what is the BJP’s roadmap for Punjab?”
Nabin said, “Punjab’s development could only be done by the BJP and with this belief, we will move forward.”
“I believe Punjab holds a special place in the heart of the prime minister. The respect he gives to Punjab and the way he sees Punjab’s pride as India’s pride is unique. I also believe that Narendra Modi resides in the hearts of the people of Punjab, and Punjab will demonstrate this in the coming elections,” he said. (PTI)
