Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday handed over appointment letters to 520 newly recruited Clerks cum Data Entry Operators in the Punjab State Cooperative Bank and said that the state government has handed over job letters to more than 40,000 youth in the state. 
 
Addressing the gathering at Tagore Theatre after handing over the appointment letters, Mann said that the state government is making strenuous efforts to restore the pristine glory of Punjab by making youth a partner in this noble cause. 

He said that the state has created history by purchasing the Goindwal power plant owned by a private company GVK Power, adding that for the first time, this reverse trend has started when the government has purchased any private power plant whereas in the past the state governments used to sell their assets to the favorite individuals at ‘throw-away’ prices. Mann said that as coal from Pachwara coal mine can be used only for government power plants so with the purchase of this power plant this coal can be aptly utilized for producing power to provide it to every sector of the state.

The Chief Minister asserted that due to massive efforts made by the state government, Punjab is witnessing a massive Industrial Revolution in the state. He said that during the last 18 months, some of the biggest companies like Tata Steel and others had made a beeline to invest in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is a step forward for making Punjab a frontrunner state and carving out Rangla Punjab.
 
Likewise, Mann said that due to concerted efforts of the state government Punjab has emerged as the most preferred investment destination in the country, adding that the state has so far attracted Investment of more than Rs 55000 crore which will create 2.95 lakh jobs for youngsters.  He said that more investments will be roped in during the coming days to give a boost to economic activity in the state.

Mann said that this spree of giving jobs will not stop and on January 18, more job letters to 590 youth will be given. He said that the motive is to make youth an equal partner in the social and economic progress of the state.  
 
He said that gone are the days when the head of the state was confined to big rooms of their palaces whereas now he is always amongst the people, adding that all the promises made with the people by his government are being fulfilled in the right earnest.  

Earlier, Special Chief Secretary to CM VK Singh welcomed the Chief Minister and exhorted the newly inducted clerks to perform their duty meticulously for the well-being of the common man. He said that there is a huge potential for the bank to give a major push to the industrial development of the state for which these clerks can play a pivotal role. VK Singh said that the youth of the state can act as a catalyst in strengthening the cooperative sector in the state.

R-Day tableau rejected by Centre to be paraded across Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said Punjab's Republic Day tableau, rejected by the Centre, will be paraded across the state after January 26.  Mann said the tableau depicts the contributions of freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, and Lala Lajpat Rai.

The Punjab CM had last month hit out at the BJP-led central government over the non-inclusion of the state’s tableau for the Republic Day parade, alleging the Centre has discriminated against the state. The Centre had rejected the accusation.

Addressing a gathering after handing over appointment letters to 520 clerks-cum-data entry operators, Mann reiterated that the Centre insulted "great martyrs" like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Udham Singh, and others by rejecting the state's tableau for the Republic Day parade.  "It (tableau) will be shown across Punjab after January 26," said Mann.

Mann alleged that the Union government was trying to belittle the contribution and sacrifice of these heroes by not including the state's tableau in the parade. This cannot be tolerated as it is a "grave insult" to these great patriots and national leaders, Mann said, adding that these leaders do not need a certificate of nationalism from the BJP-led Union government.

In an apparent reference to Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar for his remarks over the state tableau, Mann said "such leaders" are becoming a stumbling block in the state's progress.  Jakhar had accused Mann of politicizing the non-inclusion of the state's tableau for the Republic Day parade and alleged that the AAP government insisted that the tableau carried his and party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's photos and this was one of the reasons why it was rejected.

Mann said the traditional parties are envious of him because he hails from a common family and is working "tirelessly" to ensure the welfare of people. Referring to rival party leaders, Mann said they believe that they have a divine right to rule the state due to which they are not able to digest that a common man is running the state efficiently.  He said these leaders "befooled" the people for a long time but now the people are not getting swayed by their misleading propaganda.