FARIDKOT, 28th June 2026:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday pointed out that the Akalis are opposing the Anti-Beadbi Act because they know they will have to answer for their past misdeeds, declaring that they had joined hands with the forces responsible for the beadbi (sacrilege) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. During a Lok Milni in Faridkot, the Chief Minister also held the traditional political parties responsible for looting Punjab and remaining disconnected from the common people.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to public welfare, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted Punjab’s emergence as the country’s top-performing state in school education, the provision of more than 68,000 government jobs without corruption, the increase in canal irrigation from 22% to over 80%, the rollout of financial assistance for eligible women from July 1, and the benefits of cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh per family under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna.
Addressing the gathering, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Akalis are opposing the Anti-Beadbi Act tooth and nail because they are aware that they will have to pay for the misdeeds committed in the past. The Akalis were hand in glove with the fissiparous forces that hatched the conspiracies of Beadbi in the past. Now these leaders have to pay for their sinister actions due to which they and their stooges are opposing the Anti-Beadbi Act. However, this will not deter me from working for the well-being of the people and I will make every effort for this.”
The Chief Minister said, “My predecessors never met the common people as they came out of their luxurious homes only after noting the temperature, whereas I am available to the people round the clock. These leaders illegally built huge palaces by amassing whopping wealth through misuse of their official positions. The walls of these palatial residences were high and their gates always remained closed for the people. They remained inaccessible to the masses and were ultimately shown the door by them.”
He pointed out, “The people of Punjab have rejected those who looted them turn by turn. These leaders befooled the people for a long time, but now the wise people of the state are no longer getting swayed by their misleading propaganda. These arrogant politicians always took the people for granted and were ultimately shown the door. These opportunist leaders are baffled because the people are no longer responding to them. Their agenda has always been confined to the welfare of their own families rather than the welfare of the people.”
Slamming the Congress leaders, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “They have long befooled the people to satiate their lust for power. These parties have no agenda except to plunder the wealth of the state and exploit the common man. The people of Punjab are supreme and they stand firmly with the state government, which has taken path-breaking initiatives for their welfare. The smugglers who have long represented the Majha region have ruined generations of Punjab and they must be taught a lesson by the people in the ensuing Assembly elections.”
The Chief Minister said, “We eat the biscuits packed in pouches whereas these leaders, educated in convent schools in the hills, have always consumed the gold biscuits smuggled by their fathers. These leaders are bereft of any ideology or spirit of serving the common man. They are engaged in a mad race only to acquire power. These royal leaders have nothing in common with ordinary people. Their cars, overcoats, wardrobes and lifestyle have no resemblance with ours.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said, “After assuming office, I laid special emphasis on the progress and prosperity of Punjab, especially in the education sector. Previous governments had converted government schools into mere Mid Day Meal Centres, but today these schools have been transformed into educational hubs. The state government is working on a mission to strengthen education and ensure access to quality education for poor students.”
He said, “Due to the strenuous efforts of the state government, Punjab has surpassed Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi to secure the number one position in primary and middle school education. The government has upgraded primary and middle school education, strengthened the education system, introduced smart classrooms and provided advanced training to teachers. As a result of these efforts, Punjab is excelling in school education and the latest figures released by NITI Aayog show that Punjab has surpassed Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi to emerge as the top-performing state in primary and middle school education.”
The Chief Minister noted, “For the last four years, the state government has focused on teacher training, modern teaching methods and smart classrooms, and today Punjab stands at the top. Earlier Kerala held the top position, but Punjab has now claimed the number one rank with a huge margin. More such efforts will be made in the coming years. Education is the light that dispels darkness and illuminates the world. Therefore, the state government is laying special thrust on strengthening the education sector.”
He said, “The state government firmly believes that every child deserves access to quality education irrespective of his or her economic background. We are making concerted efforts to strengthen the education sector so that children from ordinary families receive the same opportunities to excel as anyone else. Education is the strongest tool for empowering future generations and building a prosperous Punjab. The state government will leave no stone unturned to further strengthen it.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “From July 1, women beneficiaries above the age of 18 years will receive notifications on their mobile phones regarding the financial assistance of ₹1,000 in the case of women belonging to the general category and ₹1,500 in the case of SC women. The funds will be transferred directly into their bank accounts and women already receiving social security pensions will also be eligible. Nearly 97% of women in Punjab are expected to benefit from the scheme and the state government has earmarked ₹9,300 crore in the Budget for it.”
Emphasizing the larger social significance of the scheme, the Chief Minister said, “The financial assistance may not make women rich, but it will certainly provide them with dignity and self-respect. Women deserve the highest respect because they are the source of life itself. The blessings of mothers and sisters help overcome every challenge in the world. Strengthening women’s financial autonomy is essential for improving household welfare, promoting gender equity and enhancing women’s participation in social and economic decision-making.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said, “I am grateful to the Almighty for blessing me with the opportunity to enact the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act, 2026. Whenever incidents of Beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji took place, the sentiments of millions of devotees were deeply hurt. The Almighty blessed me with the wisdom and strength to bring this legislation after detailed consultations with legal experts.”
The Chief Minister said, “The state government has drafted this legislation carefully so that no future amendments or loopholes weaken it. This law will act as a strong deterrent against anti-social elements attempting to commit such sacrilegious acts in future and no one will ever be able to indulge in this heinous crime. Earlier, people escaped punishment by claiming that their mind was disturbed or that they were mentally ill. However, if someone is genuinely mentally unstable, then why does he only target Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji? Why does he not crash into a train engine or touch live electric wires?”
The Chief Minister said, “The state government is working wholeheartedly for the people. We have provided free electricity to households, more than 68,000 government jobs without corruption to the youth, improved roads, closed toll plazas saving ₹70 lakh every day, imparted quality education, strengthened healthcare, built modern infrastructure and undertaken several other key initiatives. When the state government assumed office, only 22% canal water was being utilised for irrigation in Punjab. Today, this has increased to more than 80%. The state government is also working tirelessly for the development of villages by providing grants.”
The Chief Minister said, “To provide comprehensive healthcare to the people, the state government has launched the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the first-of-its-kind scheme in the country that provides cashless medical treatment of up to ₹10 lakh to every resident family in Punjab. It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that Punjab has become the first Indian state to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage. The scheme has significantly reduced the financial burden on people while ensuring quality healthcare services. This historic initiative aims to provide universal healthcare to every family in the state and people have already availed free treatment worth more than ₹650 crore under the scheme.”
On the occasion, Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Kultar Singh Sandhwan and several other dignitaries were also present.
