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In a firm reiteration of the Punjab Government’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday issued a stern warning to the youth against falling prey to fraudsters promising government jobs in exchange for money.
 
The call to vigilance comes in the wake of a significant breakthrough by the state Vigilance Bureau, which recently apprehended two police officers who defrauded 102 individuals of over Rs 26 lakh under the guise of securing government employment.
 
Mann, in his virtual address of about six minutes, gave a message to the state’s youth seeking government jobs and their parents asking them not to fall prey to fraudsters who dupe people by seeking money for government jobs, while claiming that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led State Government has already given more than 43,000 jobs to the youth “purely on merit”.
 
“Go prepare for exams, appear in exams, and if you got good marks, no one will take away a government job from you…you will get the job on the basis of merit,” he said to the state’s young boys and girls.
 
Mann emphasized the severe impact of corruption on the future of Punjab’s youth. “Corruption has shattered many dreams,” he said, highlighting the recent arrests as a testament to his administration's commitment to rooting out such malpractices. The Chief Minister recounted how the Vigilance Bureau, acting on a complaint received through the anti-corruption helpline, successfully ensnared the corrupt officers in a sting operation, catching them red-handed. “Vigilance has arrested two cops who had duped 102 people by extracting more than Rs 26 lakh from them on pretext of securing job to them,” he said, making startling revelations.
 
Assuring the public of his Government’s unwavering dedication to maintaining a corruption-free administration, Mann encouraged anyone approached for bribes in exchange for job placements to report the incident immediately to the Vigilance Bureau, or the anti-corruption helpline while assuring that their identities would remain confidential.
 
Urging the youth to stay vigilant, Mann warned against the deceitful practices of those running job rackets. “These fraudsters exploit the aspirations of our youth,” he cautioned, emphasizing that the Punjab Government’s recruitment processes are transparent and based solely on merit.
 
Highlighting the successful bust of the job scam operation, which had been active since 2021, the Chief Minister praised the Vigilance team's efficiency. He proudly declared that under his leadership, Punjab is witnessing an era of honest governance where corruption finds no refuge.
 
For those seeking to report corrupt activities, Mann provided the anti-corruption helpline number 9501200200, reassuring that all complaints would be handled with utmost confidentiality. “Together, we can eradicate this menace,” he concluded, calling for public support in the fight against corruption.