MAJITHA (AMRITSAR), 18th January 2026:
At a public function in Majithia on Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann delivered a clear message on faith, governance and the future of the constituency while laying the foundation stone for 23 rural link roads worth ₹11.32 crore. The Chief Minister said it would have given him heartfelt happiness if the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) President, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, considered himself as a soldier of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, but expressed concern that he instead calls himself a soldier of Sukhbir Singh Badal.
In the same address, the Chief Minister announced that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Talbir Singh Gill will be the party’s candidate from Majitha for the 2027 Assembly elections, asserting that the people will not allow any attempt to push Punjab back into beadbi (sacrilege) and goondagardi, and that development, dignity and respect for Sri Akal Takht Sahib will remain paramount.
Addressing a public gathering after laying the foundation stone of 23 new rural link roads in Majitha, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Earlier, this area lived under constant fear. A self-proclaimed ‘jarnail’ of the region used false cases as a weapon against ordinary people. With deep connections in both Congress and Akali governments, he unleashed a reign of terror, and people were afraid to speak.” He said that this fear has now completely vanished, as the will of the people is prevailing and such politics has been decisively rejected.
The Chief Minister said that people have charted a new path by rejecting the politics of intimidation pursued by the Majithia and Badal families. He said, “This very Majitha area was once controlled by people who hosted General Dyer for dinner on the same day as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919. Such acts of betrayal can never be forgotten. The people of Punjab will never forgive those whose hands were stained with the blood of innocent masses.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann warned that bringing the Akali Dal back to power would mean dragging Punjab back into a dark era. “It will mean the return of ‘Beadbi’ (sacrilege) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, firing on innocent protestors and atrocities against the common man,” he said.
He added that it was due to the misdeeds of the Akalis and the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) that the state government was compelled to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the missing 328 saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. “Our only objective is to trace the missing saroops. We have no intention of interfering in religious institutions,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said it was unfortunate that instead of focusing on his primary responsibilities, the SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Mann was busy making arrangements for political rallies. “Instead of calling himself a soldier of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, he proudly calls himself a soldier of Sukhbir Singh Badal. What good can be expected from such a person, who takes pride in serving someone who ruined Punjab with his every move,” he noted.
The Chief Minister reiterated the supremacy of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and said, “Sri Akal Takht Sahib is above all of us. That is why I did not attend the function of the President of India and chose instead to appear before the Takht.” He said that unlike his government, the Akalis have repeatedly undermined the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. “Jathedars have been appointed and removed at their whims, dealing a severe blow to the sanctity of these institutions,” he said, while also remarking that Congress leaders have lost their political balance after facing continuous defeats.
Making a major announcement from Majitha, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann declared that AAP leader Talbir Singh Gill will be the AAP’s candidate from Majitha in the 2027 Assembly elections. “The time has come for the people of Majitha to move beyond submitting demand letters and start taking decisions themselves,” Bhagwant Singh Mann said, asserting that AAP represents a new politics where people are not petitioners before power but partners in governance. He said that Majitha will now send a representative who believes in decision-making, development and accountability, not intimidation and entitlement.
Highlighting the pro-people initiatives of his government, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “After assuming office in March 2022, our first decision was to provide free electricity to 90 percent of households.” He said that farmers are now receiving uninterrupted power supply, sparing them from venturing out on freezing nights to irrigate their fields. “Punjab today is power surplus. With adequate coal supply and fully functional thermal plants, the state is emerging as a frontrunner in the country,” he said.
Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister said, “Some leaders treat staying one night in a poor person’s house as a novelty. I am myself a common man and I understand the daily struggles of ordinary people.” He added that the state government is committed to preserving Punjab’s glorious legacy, citing the recent commemoration of the 350th martyrdom day of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji, and said that more such initiatives will follow to familiarise students with the state’s rich heritage.
The Chief Minister said that special attention is being paid to the welfare of border residents, whom he described as true patriots. “In a major relief to farmers in the border belt, the Central Government has given in-principle approval to shift the border fence closer to the International Border,” he said, adding that this would allow unhindered cultivation of thousands of acres currently lying beyond the fencing. He said he had raised the issue with the Union Home Minister, pointing out the daily hardships faced by farmers who were forced to cross the fence under BSF escort to reach their own fields along the 532-kilometre India-Pakistan border.
The Chief Minister said that the renewal of 23 rural link roads in the Majitha constituency will be carried out at a cost of ₹11.32 crore. “Projects worth ₹11.32 crore have been initiated for the renovation of link roads in several villages of Majitha constituency. Out of this, ₹9.94 crore will be spent on road renovation and ₹1.38 crore on their maintenance over the next five years. These roads were in a deplorable condition, causing immense inconvenience to commuters and farmers transporting their produce to markets,” he said, expressing confidence that their upgradation would significantly benefit residents of Majitha and surrounding areas.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjab government has launched a massive programme to repair and upgrade link roads across the state. “Punjab has nearly 43,000 kilometres of link roads. Along with repairing them, we have taken a historic decision to ensure their maintenance for the next five years,” he said. To ensure quality, he said a CM Flying Squad has been constituted, and an Artificial Intelligence-based survey was conducted before granting approvals, leading to savings of ₹226.89 crore.
“This money was earlier siphoned off by leaders of previous regimes,” the Chief Minister said. “By plugging leakages, we are now using these funds for the development of Punjab and the prosperity of its people.” He added that with initiatives such as Aam Aadmi Clinics, Schools of Eminence and free power, governance in Punjab is now firmly centred on public welfare.
Earlier, PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries. Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, MLA Sarwan Singh Dhunn, senior AAP leader Talbir Singh Gill and other leaders were present on the occasion.
