Ludhiana, March 17
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday said that the era of harassment of the industry is over and the state government is now acting as a facilitator to the industrial sector.
Interacting with the Business tycoons here during Sanatkaar Milni, the Chief Minister, accompanied by National Convener of AAP Arvind Kejriwal, said that unlike past no one is harassing the industrialists rather the state government is making every effort to promote and encourage the industry. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has already set the wheels in motion to facilitate the industry. He said that due to untiring efforts of the state government Punjab has today emerged as a frontrunner state in industrial development.
The Chief Minister said that the credit of bringing key issues of health, education and jobs goes to Arvind Kejriwal, who has forced the traditional parties to change their agenda. He said that the AAP is working on mission mode whereas the previous regimes used to work on commission, which was totally unwarranted and undesirable. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in a democracy the masses are the supreme and that is why the state government gives huge importance to the voice of the people.
The Chief Minister said that such interactions never took place during the previous regimes and those leaders only used to have one way communication with the people. However, he said that now the common man is interacting with the Chief Minister and the Ministers to frame the policies for the progress and prosperity of the state. Bhagwwant Singh Mann said that this is unprecedented because people have now got the power to make decisions in the state.
The Chief Minister recalled his long association with Ludhiana which dates back to early 1990s when he was struggling as an artist. He said that this city is the economic capital of the state which gives food to millions of people who work here daily. Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to give impetus to the development of the city, which he described as his ‘karam bhoomi’.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is committed for welfare of every section of the society be it industry, agriculture or others. He said that the value addition of the agriculture produce is the need of the hour and the future of the state lies in it. Bhagwant Singh Mann advocated close tie up with industry and agriculture to further put the state on the high growth trajectory.
Taking Union Minister for state of Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu to cudgels, the Chief Minister said that though he hails from Ludhiana but then also he is not able to fulfill demand of industry of Ludhiana. He said that industrialists want the intervention of the state government for getting their works in Railways as they don’t have faith in him. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this reflects the faith and trust the people have in the AAP government in the state.
The Chief Minister said that those who were living in palatial houses during their heydays of power have been ousted from the political scene of the state. He said that the state has witnessed the dawn of a new era as these people who were considered invincible have been shown the door by the people. Bhagwant Singh Mann quipped that these people living in big palaces had never bothered about the well being of the common man and had confined them in high walls of their residences.
The Chief Minister said that the traditional parties are envious of him because he hails from a common family and is working tirelessly to ensure welfare of people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders had always believed that they have 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 that these leaders have befooled the people for a long time but now people are not getting swayed by their misleading propaganda.
The Chief Minister further said that instead of day dreaming to get support of MLAs of ruling AAP the Congress should focus on keeping its flock together. He slammed Congress leaders for making castles in air that few MLAs of the ruling party are in their contact and will switch soon adding that these power mad politicians neither have contact with their own cadres nor with masses due to which they were ousted by the people of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders unabatedly issue such irrational statements adding that the rhetoric that AAP MLAs are in touch with them is a gimmick to hog media limelight.
