At a public meeting in Khatkar Kalan village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, comedian-turned-politician Amitabh said, “Work will start from today itself. We will not waste a single day.”
During his address, Mann advised AAP workers and volunteers with humility and said that there should be no such report which suggests that they have become arrogant.
Mann raised slogans of ‘Inquilab Zindabad’, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Bole So Nihal’ before starting his brief speech, in which he promised to tackle unemployment, corruption and farmers’ problems.
He said that the condition of schools and hospitals in the state would be improved, as done by the AAP government in Delhi. He said that people from abroad would come to Punjab to see him like they do in Delhi.
He also talked about the exodus of youth from Punjab in search of jobs abroad.
Mann wore a yellow turban for the ceremony, the same color chosen for the theme of the decorations.
The color ‘Basanti’ signifies the spirit of revolution and sacrifice and is identified with Bhagat Singh. This also aligns with the welcome of the spring season.
Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit administers oath of office to Aam Aadmi Party leader Bhagwant Mann
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also wore yellow turbans in a style inspired by Bhagat Singh’s turban at the ceremony.
During his speech, Mann said that the swearing-in ceremony used to take place in cricket stadiums or Raj Bhavan earlier.
“Now this oath-taking ceremony is being held in the villages of the martyrs,” he said.
He said, “Bhagat Singh had dreamed of freedom and AAP is fighting to take that freedom to the common people.”
He said that the martyrs are worried that in whose hands the reins of the country will go after independence. “His concern proved to be true,” Mann said.
He said that the people of Punjab had created history by giving such a huge mandate to AAP, predicting that it would be included in the curriculum of educational institutions in future.
The crowd raised slogans like ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ and ‘Bole So Nihal’ in a fervent atmosphere at the rally, where Mann had invited the people of the state saying that three crore people of Punjab would also take oath with him.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi After taking the oath of office, congratulations poured in for Mann.
PM Modi said on Twitter, “Congratulations to Shri Bhagwant Mann ji on being sworn in as the CM of Punjab. Will work together for the development of Punjab and the welfare of the people of the state.”
Congratulations to Shri @BhagwantMann ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab. We will work together for the development of Punjab… https://t.co/H4E4gY185z
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1647421517000
Other members of the cabinet will be sworn in later as the AAP seeks to fulfill the massive mandate it got in the Punjab Assembly elections. The party, now in power in the second state – after Delhi where national convener Arvind Kejriwal is chief minister – won 92 of the 117 seats.
Parties like Congress, Shiromani Akali-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance and Amarinder Singh’s Lok Congress Party and BJP were wiped out by the AAP wave.
(with inputs from agencies)