AMRITSAR: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday took a swipe at former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son, former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, saying it was they who diluted Punjab’s claim on Chandigarh.
“Both Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal had connived with governments at the Centre to dilute the claims of Punjab over Chandigarh,” said Mann, interacting with media after paying obeisance at Golden Temple here.
He asked Sukhbir why Badals were tightlipped about Chandigarh when they were partners in successive government with the BJP at the Centre. “Badals remained mum for the sake of vested political interests,” said the CM, adding that even Congress leadership remained a mute spectator to the entire matter.
“Everyone knows who shifted the state government offices from Chandigarh to Mohali and formed New Chandigarh,” he said.
Mann, in a tweet on Saturday, had urged the central government to allot land to Punjab for setting up the seeting up the state’s legislative assembly in Chandigarh, on the lines of land announced for setting up Haryana legislative assembly in Chandigarh.
A day later, Sukhbir had asked Man to withdraw his statement on Chandigarh or face an agitation. Sukhbir had also announced to not allow Haryana to take land in Chandigarh for building a new assembly and high court.
Alleging that the Akalis and the Congress were trying to score brownie points before the media by issuing baseless statements, Mann said, “My government is committed to the well-being of every strata of society and every issue is being resolved after active consultation with the general public.”
Speaking on the issue of Mattewara forest, he held the Congress responsible for selling Punjab’s forests. “Congress party and its ministers had sold the trees of the state. On the contrary, AAP government is committed to making Punjab clean, green and pollution-free,” he said.
On the issue of drugs, he claimed that his government had launched a massive crackdown against drug peddlers in the state. “The target is to make Punjab a drug-free state, the supply line of drugs has been snapped. We are now focussing on putting peddlers behind the bars,” he said.
When asked about the law and order in Punjab, he said the maintenance of law and order was the top priority of his government. “No one will be allowed to disturb the hard-earned peace of the state,” he said.
