Taking a dig at the departure of Congress leaders towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday made it clear that no corrupt politician would be spared from action even if they join a “waddi” (big) party.

The comedian-turned-politician Mann tickled the legislators’ funny bones while not sparing the opposition, especially the previous government, in his attack. He was concluding the debate on the budget proposals, tabled by the state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema in the House on Monday.

Not naming any party, Mann’s reference was amply clear. Notably, recently Congress’ four former Ministers — Balbir Singh Sidhu, Sunder Sham Arora, Raj Kumar Verka, and Gurpreet Singh Kangar, and former state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar were among some prominent leaders who joined the BJP.

Mann, taking a jibe at the Congress leaders, quipped that some of the leaders, who indulged in corrupt practices in the past, are knocking the doors of the High Court to seek protection, even though we have not named any of them. “When they approach the courts, only then do we realize that they have done something and we should look into it,” he said.

In a strongly-worded statement laced with humour, Mann declared that the Government would not spare any politician, high-profile, minister — sitting or former, or any bureaucrat who indulges in corruption even if they join one or another affluent political party.

At the same time, he maintained that as per demands raised by the opposition leaders, the Government would well-equip and improve the state’s jails as “many politicians, and high-ups are expected to be there”.

Mann also declared that his party’s government would recover every single penny, plundered from the innocent people of the State, from the nexus of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.

“Any person, who has looted the public money, will have to pay for it and the State Government will leave no stone unturned to put them behind the bars,” he said.

Remembering Maharaja Ranjit Singh on his death anniversary, Mann said that the State Government will follow his footsteps to provide clean, transparent, and effective administration to the people. “All the benami properties and corrupt nexus behind it will be exposed before the people so that it acts as a deterrent for others to indulge in such unlawful activities,” he said.

Hailing the pro-people budget prepared by the Finance Minister after due consultation with the people, the Chief Minister said that the opposition has been caught in a peculiar situation as they have been jostling hard to find any shortcoming in such a progressive budget. He said that for the first time core areas of Education and Health have been accorded top priority in this budget.

Lamenting that the previous regimes had jeopardized the government education and health sector to give open space to the private players for expanding their businesses, Mann said that this trend will be reversed in the coming years by AAP Government through the up-gradation of government infrastructure in both these key sectors. Those who have ruined the government schools and hospitals have been shown the door by the people, he said.

Training his guns against the opposition for their propaganda on the choice of Rajya Sabha Members from Punjab by AAP, the Chief Minister reminded them that none of the Rajya Sabha members sent from the state has been rejected by the people. “This is contrary to earlier practice when the leaders who were trounced by the people in polls were sent to the Upper House of the Parliament as ‘political refugees’. Those who are questioning their choice of Rajya Sabha candidates should remember that former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had remained a Rajya Sabha member from Assam and then Rajasthan despite the fact that he belonged to Punjab,” he said.

Responding to the opposition’s criticism that AAP’s Rajya Sabha members do not speak in Punjabi, he quipped if anyone can tell how many marks Ambika Soni, former union minister and Congress Rajya Sabha member, got in Punjabi subject in Class X.

‘CHECK PILFERAGES, UTILIZE PUBLIC MONEY FOR THEM’

Responding to the opposition’s criticism over revenue to meet expenses and the mounting debt, the Chief Minister said that the government is working tirelessly for revenue generation and reduction in debt. “The State Government will check pilferages of public money and utilize it for the welfare of people. Every single penny will be spent on the development of the state and the prosperity of its people,” he said.

‘Rs 1000 ASSISTANCE FOR WOMEN NEXT’

Responding to the opposition’s query regarding AAP’s pre-poll promise of Rs 1000 financial assistance for women, Mann announced that it would be the next guarantee to be fulfilled. “The State Government is already in process of resource mobilization and once it is completed, this guarantee will be fulfilled soon...I promise this would be the next guarantee that the government would fulfill...be it a month, two months, or four months...it would be done soon,” he said. Mann added that his Government is firmly committed for fulfilling all the guarantees made with the people of the state.

VIDHAN SABHA TO GO DIGITAL

After presenting a “paperless” budget, Chief Minister declared that there would be an e-Vidhan Sabha session next. Listing several e-governance initiatives taken by his government, Mann said that from the next Vidhan Sabha session, the Punjab assembly will also get a new look. “As of now, the wiring is being done...From the next session, touch screens will be installed on members’ seats in the assembly thereby giving it a major facelift in form of e-assembly,” he said adding that all the papers and bills will be on screens and not be given in person.