Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched a scathing attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Sunday, accusing them of creating “unnecessary obstacles” in critical development projects across the state.
Speaking at a gathering in Dhuri, Sangrur district, after distributing ₹3.07 crore for local development works, Mann warned the BJP to stop employing “cheap tactics to kindise development” and undermining public welfare initiatives.
Mann, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, emphasized that his government is committed to transforming Punjab’s villages into modern development hubs, with no shortage of funds for such projects. “The BJP’s attempts to derail our efforts will not be tolerated. Punjabis deserve progress, not political games,” he said. The funds allocated in Dhuri are part of broader initiatives, including healthcare improvements under the Sehat Yojna, free electricity, and anti-drug campaigns, which Mann highlighted as priorities for his administration.
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The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions with the BJP, fueled by issues like the water-sharing dispute with Haryana and the suspension of Punjab’s rural development fund (RDF) in 2023, which Mann previously claimed cost the state ₹1,000 crore. He accused the BJP of an “anti-Punjab” stance, a sentiment echoed in his earlier criticisms of the Centre’s handling of farmers’ issues and infrastructure neglect.
Critics, however, argue Mann’s rhetoric is a deflection from internal AAP challenges, including farmer protests and accusations of aligning with the BJP to counter opposition pressure.
A March 2025 India Today report noted Mann’s shift from mediating farmer-Centre talks to cracking down on protests, drawing flak from farmer unions and opposition leaders like Congress’ Pargat Singh, who called it a BJP-orchestrated move to defame farmers. Despite these tensions, Mann’s focus on development—evidenced by initiatives like the ₹5 lakh special grant for panchayats and the “One MLA, One Pension” scheme—aims to reinforce AAP’s pro-people narrative ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.
The BJP’s Punjab unit, led by figures like Tarun Chugh, has yet to respond directly to Mann’s latest accusations. However, past BJP retorts, such as those condemning Mann’s remarks against PM Modi in July 2025, suggest a counter-narrative of AAP’s governance failures, particularly on law and order and economic losses from protests. As Punjab navigates these political fault lines, Mann’s warning signals a deepening rift, with development projects caught in the crossfire.
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