As the first Dalit chief minister of Punjab, Charanjit Singh Channi, took charge on Monday, he promised free water supply to smaller homes, a reduction in power tariff and a transparent government for the common man in the poll-bound state.
Two deputy chief ministers, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and O P Soni, were also sworn in by Governor Banwarilal Purohit at a Raj Bhavan ceremony, also attended by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
At his first press conference later, Channi, 58, got emotional as he described himself as an “aam aadmi” — a common man — and a poor person, while thanking the Congress high command for picking him for the post.
The three-time MLA from Chamkaur Sahib recalled that he had pedalled a rickshaw and his father ran a “tent house”.
The CM said there will be no water and sewage charges for houses up to 150 or 200 square yards in urban areas. A decision on this will be taken when the cabinet meets, he said. His government would also reduce the electricity tariff. “My wife is a doctor, my brother is a doctor. There are employees in my house. When the power bill comes, my wife tells me that the money goes from her pocket… these bills will be reduced,” he said
The cabinet will also take a decision on dealing with sand-mining mafias. Channi said he and his party did not want the mafia in the state.
AICC General Secretary Harish Rawat and PCC President Navjot Sidhu were by his side as Channi addressed the media. He urged the Centre to repeal the three laws over which farmers have been protesting for months. The CM said he will become the voice of the common people of Punjab and will always remain accessible.
“Together, we have to make Punjab prosperous. Punjab is primarily an agrarian state. This government is pro-farmer,” he said.
On Capt Amarinder Singh, Channi said he did good work as CM. “He is also known as the protector of water rights. He is our party leader.” The new CM said his government will remain committed to the Congress leadership’s 18-point agenda for the state and the previous election promises will be fulfilled.
The party agenda includes justice in the case of the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in 2015, combating drug trafficking and scrapping power purchase pacts signed earlier. “We will ensure a transparent government,” he said. The chief minister assured that the issues over which government employees are protesting will be resolved.