Chandigarh, September 13: Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday attacked the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, saying that the people of Punjab want development, employment, security for industries and solutions to their problems, not jokes, publicity and advertisements. There has never been any shortage of ability or hard work among the people of Punjab, but the policies, intentions and leadership of governments that have failed to provide the state with the right direction have pushed Punjab behind in the race for development.
The Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting organised at Kakrala village in Patiala on Sunday. Former Minister Preneet Kaur, Professor Malkit Singh and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. On this occasion, hundreds of people joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Chief Minister welcomed all those who joined the party.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that although Punjab and Haryana are two separate states, their roots, culture and heritage are one. Paying homage to this great land of Gurus, Pirs and martyrs, he said that the people of Punjab are now asking why Punjab has fallen behind despite having fertile land, hardworking people and immense potential.
The Chief Minister said that at one time Punjab was counted among the most prosperous states in the country. Haryana, which came into existence nearly 19 years after Punjab was formed, has today moved far ahead of Punjab in terms of economic progress. In 2025-26, Haryana’s real economic growth rate is estimated at 9.5 per cent, while Punjab’s growth rate is only 6.1 per cent. Thus, Haryana is progressing 3.4 percentage points faster than Punjab. Similarly, in 2026-27, Haryana’s economy is estimated at approximately ₹15.18 lakh crore, while Punjab’s is estimated at approximately ₹9.81 lakh crore. There is a difference of approximately ₹5.38 lakh crore in the economic size of the two states. This difference is a difference of the right policy, clear intent and accountable leadership.
He said that in 2023-24, Haryana’s share in the country’s GDP was approximately 3.6 per cent, while Punjab’s share was approximately 2.4 per cent. Haryana’s per capita income was estimated at 176.8 per cent of the national average, while Punjab’s was estimated at 106.7 per cent.
The Chief Minister said that at one time, Punjab’s per capita income used to be nearly twice the national average, but the situation has changed today. He said that the people of Punjab want an answer as to why the state’s economic potential is not being fully utilised.
*Economy is strengthened by work, not publicity and advertisements*
The Chief Minister said that the Aam Aadmi Party government has given Punjab more publicity than work and more advertisements than results. Repeating false claims does not strengthen an economy. An economy becomes strong when industries receive security, youth get employment, traders have confidence, farmers receive remunerative prices and the benefits of government schemes reach people directly without discrimination.
He said that it is the government’s responsibility to go among the people, listen to their problems and resolve them. Jokes work in cinema halls, but among the people, the discussion is about work, development and solutions to public problems. He said that the Congress had also made big promises to the people of Punjab but failed to fulfil them. The Aam Aadmi Party also made numerous promises, but they remained merely promises and people did not get relief from their problems.
*Haryana Government has fulfilled 70 out of 217 promises*
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, the present BJP government in Haryana has been working to fulfil the promises made to the people. Out of the 217 promises made during the 2024 Assembly elections, 70 have already been fulfilled within 18 months of the government’s tenure.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the Haryana Government has provided major relief to kidney patients. Patients had to spend between ₹25,000 and ₹30,000 per dialysis session. However, in accordance with the promise made in the election manifesto, the Haryana Government has implemented the decision to waive the entire cost of dialysis. Patients now do not have to spend money from their own pockets for this treatment.
He said that the Haryana Government has also fulfilled its promises regarding the dignity and empowerment of women. Women from families with an annual income of up to ₹1.80 lakh are being provided LPG cylinders at ₹500. In the last 18 months, more than ₹300 crore has been deposited into women’s accounts.
He said that the promise to provide monthly assistance of ₹2,100 to women under the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana has also been implemented. The government had made a provision of ₹5,000 crore for this in its very first budget. In the last 18 months, more than ₹2,000 crore has been deposited into women’s accounts.
*Entire crop of farmers being procured at MSP in Haryana*
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, the Haryana Government has fulfilled its promise to farmers by procuring their entire crop at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Haryana is the first state in the country where the entire crop of farmers is being procured at MSP. Full payment for the crop is being made into farmers’ accounts within 48 to 72 hours. If payment takes more than 72 hours, farmers are paid along with interest.
Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, targeting the Aam Aadmi Party government over the growing drug menace in Punjab and the future of its youth, said that when a person raised his voice before the government to keep children away from drugs, he was harassed and an attempt was made to silence his voice. Hurt by this, he ended his life. He said that this incident raises serious questions about law and order, sensitive governance and respect for the voice of ordinary citizens in Punjab.
The Chief Minister said that injustice is also being done to the youth of Punjab in the name of employment. He said that it has come to light that people close to MLAs got jobs in the recruitment of Excise Inspectors in Punjab. In contrast, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, the BJP government in Haryana has given priority to transparency and merit in government recruitment. In Haryana, youth are getting government jobs without “parchi and kharchi”, entirely on the basis of merit.
The Chief Minister said that some people talk about honesty but seek votes through jokes. He said that the people are concerned not with jokes but with work.
*Assurance to extend the benefits of Haryana’s schemes to the people of Punjab*
The Chief Minister said that the people of Punjab now want work on the ground, not merely announcements. He expressed confidence that Punjab can also be given strong momentum on the path of progress by advancing the policies of development, good governance and public welfare under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi. The public welfare schemes being implemented in Haryana under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi will also be extended to the people of Punjab. He said that just as schemes are being implemented in Haryana for the poor, women, farmers and needy families, similar efforts will be made with commitment to ensure that the people of Punjab also benefit from these schemes.
*The example of how a BJP government works can be seen in Haryana: Preneet Kaur*
Former Minister Maharani Preneet Kaur said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, India has established a strong identity at the global level. Today, India is among the world’s major economic powers. This is no small achievement. She said that Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi is continuously working to make the country strong, capable and developed. She said that it is the need of the hour to free the children of Punjab from drugs and other evils and provide them with opportunities for education, employment and development. She expressed confidence that only the Bharatiya Janata Party, with the support of the Central Government, can effectively work towards making Punjab drug-free, developed and prosperous.
She said that the people of Punjab are also witnessing the development works being undertaken in Haryana under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and the functioning of the government. She said that Haryana provides an example of how a BJP government works. She said that development can also be accelerated in Punjab by working together with the Central Government. She appealed to the people to vote in favour of the BJP in the upcoming elections.
