People Of Punjab Can See & Experience Work Of Bhagwant Mann Govt, Opposition’s Allegations Cannot Change Reality: Baltej Pannu
Punjab E News (PEN News): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu on Saturday said the opposition parties had no answer to the unprecedented work done by the Bhagwant Mann government over the past four-and-a-half years and were therefore resorting to mudslinging, baseless allegations and conspiracy theories against CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and people around him.
During a press conference,AAP Punjab State Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, “The opposition has tried every possible tactic to defame CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, but it has failed because the people of Punjab can clearly see the work being done by the government. Whenever the Chief Minister goes for a routine medical check-up or falls ill, opposition leaders circulate sensational and fabricated bulletins about his health. Similarly, whenever CM Bhagwant Singh Mann travels abroad to attract investment and businesses to Punjab, false rumours are deliberately spread with the sole intention of undermining him.”
He said that instead of answering the achievements of the Bhagwant Mann government, the opposition had nothing left except to “throw mud” at the Chief Minister and those around him. “A person who has done more work for Punjab in four-and-a-half years than previous governments managed to do over the past 75 years is being targeted because the opposition has no answer to his record,” Baltej Pannu said.
Baltej Pannu said the contrast was particularly visible in the area of canal irrigation. “When the Bhagwant Mann government came to power, only around 21% of agricultural land was receiving canal water, and today the figure has risen to nearly 80%. The question should be where the remaining water was going for 45 years and under what agreements it was being given free to other states. But the opposition doesn’t want to talk about that,” he said.
On education and healthcare, Baltej Pannu said the opposition had no answer to the transformation taking place across Punjab. “Punjab’s education system has been transformed to such an extent that the state has surpassed Kerala and reached the top position in education rankings. The government has also established Mohalla Clinics, transformed hospitals, provided free medicines and tests, and introduced cashless healthcare coverage of up to ₹10 lakh for every person,” he said.
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge said the Bhagwant Mann government had delivered on its promises across sectors, including free electricity and financial support for women. “Within three months of forming the government, 600 units of free electricity every two months were provided to every household, a benefit that continues till today. Women are now receiving ₹1,000 per month in the general category and ₹1,500 per month for women from the Scheduled Caste community under the Maavan-Dheeyan Satkar scheme, with nearly 80 lakh registrations already done,” he said.
Baltej Pannu said the formation and work of Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF) had also produced tangible results in road safety. “When we are delivering such work, the opposition has no words,” he said.
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge said the people of Punjab had repeatedly seen the same political pattern from traditional parties and that the emergence of AAP had challenged the old political arrangement. “Earlier, one party would win by campaigning against another. After the emergence of AAP, that old political arrangement was challenged. The leaders of the traditional parties have now come together because they have nothing positive to offer the people,” he said.
He pointed out the opposition had now started a “new practice” of targeting CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and people around him because it could not find anything against the government’s performance. “They are hoping that if they keep making allegations against the Chief Minister, his family and those around him, perhaps the people of Punjab will believe them. But the people will not believe them because these parties have already broken the trust of Punjab,” Baltej Pannu said.
On the allegations levelled against Chief Minister’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Ghuman, Baltej Pannu questioned the manner in which an Enforcement Directorate letter was being presented publicly by Bikram Singh Majithia. “It is surprising that an Enforcement Directorate (ED) letter is being presented publicly by Bikram Singh Majithia as if he is the spokesperson of the agency. After Rajbir Ghuman issued a legal notice demanding evidence for the allegations, those making these claims will have to answer for the basis of their statements,” he said.
Baltej Pannu also criticised allegations made by Ranjit Singh, brother-in-law of Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira, against CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s wife. “Such serious allegations cannot be made merely on the basis of claims without producing any evidence or proof,” he said.
“It is shocking that a person who has held a high post and understands that allegations must be backed by evidence has also descended to this level of politics merely because they are desperate to regain power,” he said.
Taking a dig at Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Baltej Pannu said the Congress leader had made spreading negativity a daily routine. “He starts spreading negativity at 6 AM every morning. People have stopped listening to him, stopped reading him and stopped watching him because they are tired of this politics of negativity,” he said.
Baltej Pannu said legal notices had now been issued seeking evidence for such allegations and made it clear that those making claims would have to substantiate them. “If someone repeatedly throws mud without any proof, we have every legal right to issue a legal notice and seek evidence. Those making allegations must be prepared to substantiate them,” he affirmed.
He said that while opposition leaders were busy making allegations, the people of Punjab were experiencing the work of the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann government in their daily lives. “People are getting 600 units of free electricity, farmers are receiving electricity during the daytime, patients are receiving treatment at Mohalla Clinics and hospitals, the ₹10 lakh cashless healthcare card is working, and people have used it to get treatment for serious illnesses,” Baltej Pannu said.
He said farmers were also receiving a continuous supply of canal water, which had helped improve Punjab’s groundwater situation. “This is not merely the AAP government’s claim. It has also been reflected in information presented in Parliament. The people of Punjab know very well what the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann government has delivered. The opposition can make as many absurd allegations as it wants and target whoever it wants, but it will not change the reality on the ground,” Baltej Pannu said.
Baltej Pannu said the Bhagwant Mann government would continue to focus on development rather than getting distracted by the opposition’s negative politics. “Punjab’s people know the difference between a government that works and parties that only make allegations. No amount of mudslinging can erase the work that people can see and experience themselves,” he said.
Baltej Pannu reiterated that AAP would not tolerate deliberate attempts to defame individuals through baseless allegations. “If anyone makes allegations without evidence, we have the legal right to take action according to law. Those who make allegations must be ready to face legal consequences if they cannot substantiate them,” he said.
