Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh E.T.O. said that the leaders of the Congress Party are currently engaged in their own political battles instead of focusing on the development of Punjab and have no concrete roadmap for the state's progress. He said that the Congress Party is witnessing an intense internal scramble for the Chief Minister's post, with every leader aspiring to occupy the position, irrespective of the people's aspirations.
The Cabinet Minister was addressing public gatherings organised under the Lok Milni Programme in the villages of Raipur Khurd, Sarja, Beriana and Kot Hayat in the Jandiala Guru Assembly constituency. S. Harbhajan Singh E.T.O. said that it is for the people of Punjab to decide who will become the Chief Minister of the state.
He added that, impressed by the development works and pro-people initiatives undertaken by the Aam Aadmi Party Government under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the people of Punjab have made up their minds to once again give the party an opportunity to serve the state.
He expressed confidence that the Aam Aadmi Party would register a resounding victory in the forthcoming Assembly elections. Speaking about the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Minister alleged that the Badal family had always used Panthic sentiments to further its political interests.
He said that the people of Punjab have not forgotten the incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that took place during the Akali Dal regime. He further stated that the Shiromani Akali Dal has now been reduced to a party centred around a single family and has lost the support of the people.
The Public Works Minister said that after Independence, Punjab was governed for decades by the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, but the leaders of these traditional parties prioritised the interests of themselves and their relatives over the overall development of the state. He asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party Government is taking Punjab forward on the path of development, transparent governance and people-centric policies.
He appealed to the people to continue supporting the Aam Aadmi Party's pro-people agenda in the interest of Punjab's progress and honest governance. During the programme, S. Harbhajan Singh E.T.O. also listened attentively to the grievances and demands of residents from the participating villages.
He directed the concerned departmental officers to address genuine public issues on a priority basis and ensure their time-bound resolution. He said that the Punjab Government is committed to resolving people's problems at their doorstep instead of forcing them to make repeated visits to government offices.
He assured the public that every genuine demand would be addressed with sincerity and that no laxity in development works would be tolerated.