On directions of his Delhi boss Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann and the DGP are carrying out the “systematic targeting” of Punjab’s youth : Bikram Singh Majithia

On directions of his Delhi boss Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann and the DGP are carrying out the “systematic targeting” of Punjab’s youth : Bikram Singh Majithia

Asked the government to explain where the Malwa Canal is despite crores spent on advertisements claiming its construction

Said the promised Rs 10 lakh health insurance scheme for Punjabi families exists only in advertisements

Raised the issue of non payment of DA to Punjab government employees

Extended support to farmers protesting for their rights

Development work will accelerate in the constituency once an Akali Dal government is formed: Sikander Singh Maluka

Chandigarh 28 February ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, while addressing a rally at Rampura Phul in Bathinda, alleged that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the acting DGP were functioning at the behest of their Delhi leadership led by Arvind Kejriwal and were responsible for what he termed as the systematic targeting of Punjab’s youth. He said neither the Shiromani Akali Dal nor the people of Punjab would tolerate this.

Referring to the Gurdaspur incident, Majithia alleged that an innocent Sikh youth was killed in a fake encounter after being accused in the killing of police personnel. He said resentment over the incident was growing from village Adhia to Punjabis settled abroad. He claimed that the Chief Minister had initially stated during a press conference that the deaths of the two police personnel appeared to have resulted from internal firing, but later a 19 year old Sikh youth was picked up from his home for questioning and subsequently killed, with a narrative similar to a recent encounter case in Mohali being presented by the police. He demanded a high level probe into the alleged fake encounter and said a case under Section 302 should be registered against the Chief Minister, acting DGP and SSP Gurdaspur.

Majithia alleged that law and order had deteriorated in Punjab under the AAP government and people no longer felt secure. Targeting Bhagwant Mann, he questioned the government’s claims regarding the Malwa Canal project, stating that crores of rupees were spent on publicity but the canal was nowhere to be seen on the ground. He termed the government one driven by slogans and false promises. He further alleged that the government was now attempting to fulfil its promise of financial assistance to women only in the final phase of its tenure by offering limited payments, adding that women in Punjab would not be misled by last minute announcements.

Speaking on the **Rs 10 lakh health insurance scheme for Punjabi families**, Majithia claimed that the scheme existed largely in advertisements. He alleged that even if substantial funds were allocated in the budget, a significant portion would be spent on publicity rather than delivering real healthcare benefits to citizens. Raising the issue of dearness allowance, he alleged that while senior IAS and IPS officers were being granted DA, lower level employees were being denied their dues despite long working hours and sacrifices made in service of the state. He assured that all employee related issues would be addressed on priority if the Shiromani Akali Dal returned to power.

Backing farmers, Majithia criticised the alleged misconduct with protesting farmers by Bathinda SSP Jyoti Yadav, wife of an AAP minister. He claimed that during a protest she ordered officials to bring a farmer identified as the “yellow turbaned man,” after which the farmer was allegedly assaulted so severely that he was unable to stand on his feet. He said the silence of the Chief Minister and the government reflected insensitivity towards Punjab and Punjabis. Commenting on the state government’s anti drug campaign, Majithia alleged contradictions in the Chief Minister’s claims, questioning why treatment was sought outside Punjab despite repeated assertions that government hospitals and mohalla clinics offered world class medical facilities.

He said Punjab did not need an acting Chief Minister, an acting DGP or parties making false promises, adding that only a regional party could ensure balanced development of the state. He alleged the AAP government had failed on all fronts and claimed people were eager to remove what he described as a government functioning under directions from Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, senior Akali leader Sikander Singh Maluka said that during previous Akali Dal governments, the constituency received extensive development works, including schools, power infrastructure, wider roads, grain markets and colleges. He credited former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and party president Sukhbir Singh Badal for the development carried out in the region and asserted that once the Akali Dal returns to power, rapid development would again take place in the constituency. Maluka also criticised the Congress, alleging it had historically harmed Punjab and said the past four years had proven unproductive for both the state and the constituency.