Launching a scathing attack on the previous governments, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday asserted that the state’s financial condition was never the issue — rather, it was the intent of those in power that remained hollow.

“The treasury was never empty; only the intentions of past governments were. When intentions are right, even limited resources can work wonders,” said Mann, speaking at a state-level function in Khatkar Kalan held to commemorate the martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Rajguru, and Shaheed Sukhdev.

Mann asserted that in the past three years, no Minister or MLA from his government had ever claimed the treasury was empty. “The previous regimes would say there’s no money in the exchequer, yet they indulged in scams and corruption. If the treasury was empty, why call it a treasury? Call it an empty drum instead. We have proved that with honest governance, even limited resources can be utilized for Punjab’s progress,” he added. 

The Chief Minister announced that major developmental projects would be rolled out in the coming days, emphasizing that “fixing a broken system takes time”. He likened his government’s work to untying the tangled laces of 75-year-old boots, stating, “If you don’t untie shoelaces for a few days, they get jammed. The system we inherited has been neglected for 75 years. Untangling it will take time, but we are determined. Our commitment is to take Punjab back to the top.”

State-Level Event Honouring Martyrs at Khatkar Kalan

The event at Khatkar Kalan was attended by several Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, and dignitaries. The Chief Minister and his team paid floral tributes at the samadhi of Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s father, Kishan Singh, and later at the martyr’s statue. Mann stated that paying tribute to the martyrs should not just be about garlanding statues but about carrying forward their vision. 

“Shaheed Bhagat Singh had once written — ‘Don’t cry over my death; protect my ideology’. We are striving to keep his ideology alive,” Mann said. He highlighted that previous governments only paid lip service to the sacrifices of revolutionaries but never worked towards real change. 

Foundation Laid for Shaheed Bhagat Singh Govt Medical College

Earlier in the day, Mann laid the foundation stone of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Government Medical College at Barnala Kalan village in SBS Nagar, which will be built at a cost of Rs 300 crore. The college will be spread over 18 acres, house 100 hospital beds, and offer 50 MBBS seats. 

Underscoring the importance of healthcare infrastructure, Mann said that earlier, people from this region had to travel to Ludhiana, Jalandhar, or Chandigarh for treatment. “We are changing this reality. Quality healthcare will now be available in SBS Nagar itself,” he said. 

This medical college is the third in Doaba region, following those in Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur, established within 36 months under Mann’s leadership. The hospital will be upgraded with ICU, trauma centers, diagnostic labs, and super-specialty departments, reducing patient burden on referral hospitals and ensuring affordable healthcare for locals. 

“Our goal is to make Punjab a healthcare hub,” said Mann, adding that four more medical colleges will soon come up in Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Malerkotla, and Sangrur to prevent students from having to seek medical education abroad. 

Transforming Punjab Through Governance Reforms

Mann detailed his government’s achievements, taking a dig at previous administrations for failing to implement essential reforms. “When we campaigned, we promised free electricity. Opponents mocked us. But since July 1, 2022, 90 percent of households are getting free power,” he said, adding that Punjab has also purchased a private thermal plant to ensure continuous coal supply, ending the electricity crisis.

Mann further said that in three years, “we shut down 17 toll plazas, saving Punjab’s people Rs 62 lakh per day. Previous governments let them run even after contracts expired because they were getting kickbacks”.

Talking about employment generation, Mann claimed that AAP Government provided 52,606 government jobs purely on merit. “No bribes, no recommendations — only qualification mattered,” he said.

Mann went on to add that as many as 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened, benefiting three crore patients, offering free medicines, tests, and consultations. He emphasized that his government does not engage in short-term gimmicks. “We don’t sign files that burden people. We work to uplift Punjab, not loot it,” he said. 

Shameful State of Governance Before 2022

Mann condemned the corruption that had plagued Punjab for decades. He cited recent cash recoveries from bureaucrats and judges, questioning, “How can justice be expected from those who hoard illegal wealth?”

The Chief Minister lamented that previous governments neglected even basic infrastructure. “For 75 years, they couldn’t even complete sewer covers, but in three years, we have transformed schools, hospitals, and employment systems,” he said. 

Perpetuating Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s Legacy

Mann reiterated that his government is committed to realizing the dreams of Bhagat Singh and his fellow revolutionaries. He reminded that it was his government that renamed Mohali International Airport after the martyr — an initiative ignored by previous regimes for decades.

“Our government also inaugurated Nishan-e-Inquilab Plaza on Mohali’s Airport Road, featuring a 30-foot-high statue of Bhagat Singh…Every visitor who passes through this road will be reminded of our hero’s legacy,” he said. 

A Call for Youth to Follow Bhagat Singh’s Ideals

Mann urged the youth to follow Bhagat Singh’s ideology, rather than chasing material gains. He highlighted his government’s Schools of Eminence initiative, inspired by Dr BR Ambedkar’s philosophy that ‘Education is the milk of a lioness — whoever drinks it will roar’.

“Our government is sending teachers for international training in Singapore and Finland to upgrade Punjab’s education system…We are not just building classrooms; we are creating a knowledge revolution,” Mann declared. 

A Pledge to Make Punjab Number One Again

Ending his speech, Mann assured that his government will leave no stone unturned in making Punjab the leading state in the country. “The revolutionaries fought for freedom, but unfortunately, black British replaced the white British,” he said, quoting Bhagat Singh’s concerns about self-serving politicians after Independence. “But now, Punjab is changing. We will make it the number one state again,” he said.