Bhagwant Mann accuses previous governments of aiding drug trade, vows action
The Chief Minister alleged that earlier regimes not only turned a blind eye to the drug crisis but also actively protected and facilitated drug networks across the state. He claimed that government machinery, including official vehicles, was misused to transport narcotics under the patronage of powerful individuals.Mann said that his administration has broken this pattern by arresting several individuals who were previously considered beyond the reach of law. He added that many of these individuals, known for amassing wealth through illicit activities, are now in jail and facing the consequences of their actions.Additionally, Mann also took aim at political opponents who, he said, opposed the arrest of senior leaders linked to the drug trade. Without naming anyone directly, he referenced historical instances to underscore what he described as a legacy of betrayal against Punjab's interests.The Chief Minister clarified that there is no political vendetta behind the arrests. Legal proceedings are being followed and the judiciary will determine the outcome. During the address, Mann said that those who contributed to the devastation of Punjab's youth through drugs do not deserve any special privileges while in custody.- EndsMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#Punjab
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Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
Amid resentment against land pooling, CM Mann interacts with villagers in Ludhiana
Amid the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's proposed land pooling policy facing massive backlash and opposition in rural areas, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann Sunday reached Ludhiana villages to 'seeks suggestions from farmers on vital issues to create Rangla Punjab.' The chief minister's office said that 'instead of a cosy sofa, Mann interacted with villagers sitting under a tree' in Samrala and Libra of Ludhiana district, and 'sought their vital inputs regarding the carving out of Rangla Punjab and apprised them about key initiatives of his government.' 'There were no cozy sofas or the formalities of government protocol in usual meetings of the state government but there was a sense of belongingness where a Chief Minister visited the ground to open his mind with the people and get feedback from them,' said a statement. Mann said that at the time he assumed office, only 21% of canal water was being used for irrigation but today that number has risen to 63%. He said that it was 'for the first time the water of canals and rivers have reached the villages in the tail end of the state.' Mann also mentioned that his government successfully safeguarded Punjab's water resources from being diverted to other states. He informed the farmers that in order to avoid complications to them in selling their paddy harvest due to high moisture content in October, the state government has advanced the paddy cultivation season. He said that zone wise cultivation of the paddy crop has been ensured in the state along with necessary planning and arrangements. Mann said that the state was divided into zones to implement this sowing mechanism in an effective manner and the dates of paddy cultivation in a phased manner were announced soon so that farmers can take benefit from it. Mann said that he had called the Union Food Minister and urged that now the procurement of paddy must start from September 15 so that the farmers of the state can sell their in a smooth and hassle free manner. He also spoke about the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna — the first-of-its-kind scheme in the country that provides cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh for every resident family in Punjab. He claimed that Punjab was the first state to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage. The Chief Minister said that his government has revived 15947 water courses in the state due to which water has reached at the tail ends even in remotest villages. Expressing concern over big fat weddings in the state, the Chief Minister said that they are putting a huge burden on the pockets of the common farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann, while batting for simple weddings, said that it is the need of the hour so that farmers can be pulled out of the vicious circle of debt. He quipped that the top leaders of the opposition parties are not even aware of the basic Punjabi due to which they can't read or write it well. Mann said that these leaders who had took education from high end schools were poor in speaking Punjabi due to which they can't connect with masses.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Opposition to land pooling increases as support remains limited to AAP leadership
Jalandhar: If voices from Punjab's rural areas, especially among farmers and their organisations, are getting louder against land acquisition policy, voices in support of the policy are confined only to a section of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership. There are no organic voices yet from urban areas supporting the policy. Unlike the farm protest at Shambhu border, which led to the blockade of the vital National Highway 44 for close to a year, and where there were voices from trade, industry, and urban areas for lifting the blockade, there are no such voices from urban areas speaking in support of the land pooling scheme. The crackdown on the protest at the Shambhu border helped the ruling party get support from trade and industry sectors, and this became evident during the Ludhiana West byelection. Even when it comes to community, caste, social and economic levels, no section has yet started speaking out in support of the policy. There are quite a few videos that have been widely shared on Punjabi social media space, in which farmers have issued warnings to AAP supporters to face serious physical consequences if they come to their villages to explain the policy. BKU (Doaba) president Manjit Singh Rai, whose land is coming under the land pooling policy in Hoshiarpur district, publicly said he would not let anybody entering his land escape unscathed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo A similar warning has been given by farmers from villages near Jalandhar. With opposition to the policy now becoming 'political correctness' among farmers, AAP may face an uphill task in getting farmers who can publicly speak in support of the scheme. From the govt side, along with chief minister Bhagwant Mann, ministers Aman Arora, Harpal Cheema, Hardeep Singh Mundian, Sanjeev Arora, and MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer have defended the policy. A few office bearers have also given interviews to a few YouTube channels to defend the policy. However, most of the MLAs or constituency in-charges, whose constituencies have areas coming under the land pooling policy, have confined themselves to sharing the party's pro-policy statements or videos, instead of giving their own statements or going to the villages whose land is covered under the scheme. These were mainly the rural areas of Punjab which provided the greatest push to the urban-centric AAP in the 2014 parliamentart election, due to the peculiar political situation in the state. In the 2022 assembly elections, the party swept equally in rural and urban areas. Now, with farm groups, opposition parties, Punjabi activists, and netizens pushing the counter-narrative across rural Punjab, much beyond the villages whose land is coming under it, the task for AAP is getting tougher.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Opposition to Punjab's land-pooling policy brings together farmers
Opposition to Punjab's land-pooling policy brings together farmers BATHINDA: Resistance to AAP-led Punjab government's land-pooling policy is acting as the glue to bring together fractured farm organisations and individual farmers beyond political affiliation, reports Neel Kamal. It appears to be rekindling farm struggles that seemed to be losing momentum - seeing that there was not much hue and cry after Punjab Police slammed shut the protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders with Haryana. The Bhagwant Mann government has been trying to convince people that land-pooling scheme was beneficial to farmers but it hasn't been able to dispel farmers' apprehension of losing land. Individual farmers from villages where land is being 'pooled' - those so far not associated with farm organisations - are now turning towards them to oppose the scheme. The policy aims to pool over 40,000 acres of farmland to promote planned urban development. It's a land-for-land scheme, where landowners voluntarily give up land and are given developed residential and commercial plots in exchange. SKM's green light to its Punjab chapter to hold tractor rallies on July 30 in villages that are likely to be brought under land-pooling scheme has come as a boost to forces opposing the scheme. The national committee of KMM has also backed the SKM call, further emboldening resistance.
