CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday took a swipe at the Centre’s new Rural Employment Bill (VB-G RAM G), saying that merely changing names does not bring real change and that action matters more than rebranding.
Mann said the Centre had earlier changed the names of railway stations and cities and was now focused on changing the names of institutions.
“They changed stations and cities. Now all that is left is to change the name of the country,” he said sarcastically.
He said changing a name does not alter reality. “If someone’s name is changed to Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan, he does not really become that person,” the Chief Minister said. He added that daily wage earners were not concerned about the name of a scheme but wanted a clear guarantee of employment. “People want work to happen, whether you call the city Prayagraj or Allahabad,” he said.
Responding to the Opposition’s criticism over the murder of a kabaddi player in Mohali, Mann said strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disturb peace in Punjab. “No one will be able to escape after committing a crime,” he said.
The Chief Minister also reviewed preparations for the ‘Shaheedi Sabha’ to be held at Fatehgarh Sahib from December 25 to 27.
He said elaborate security and civic arrangements had been put in place for the lakhs of devotees expected to pay homage to the supreme martyrdom of Dashmesh Pita Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Mata Gujri Ji.
