edited by: Pathikrit Sen Gupta
Last Update: March 17, 2023, 00:05 IST
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann. File pic/PTI
Bhagwant Mann’s 10-minute address on completion of one year of being sworn in as Punjab chief minister was thoroughly influenced by the anti-corruption drive he claimed was launched by the AAP government to target top politicians and bureaucrats , who were accused. misconduct
In his address on completing one year in power, the Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann It seems to have avoided a face-off with the opposition on the issue of law and order and instead took up the “anti-corruption” ammunition of its government to counter its opponents’ narrative, which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was unable to handle the security issues of the border state
The 10-minute address, marking the completion of one year of being sworn in as chief minister, was thoroughly influenced by the anti-corruption drive he claimed was launched by the AAP government to target top politicians and bureaucrats involved in corruption. , “We have set an example by not sparing our own party’s elected MLAs and even ministers. Many leaders of the opposition went behind bars. Corrupt officials are also on target. Our party led by Arvind Kejriwal was born out of the anti-corruption movement and we are living up to the expectations of the people.
According to sources, the strategy was clear and subtle. Use the plank of corruption to counter the opposition’s allegations on law and order issues. He said, “Both the Congress and the Akali Dal were wiped out because of the allegations of corruption. AAP was born on the issue of anti-corruption and what better way to counter the narrative of the opposition than by not sparing even the bigwigs.
The Mann government has repeatedly come under attack from the opposition for its handling of law and order issues in the state. Be it the murder of prominent singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moose Wala or the recent emergence of the controversial Khalistan supporter Amritpal SinghThe opposition is targeting the AAP government over alleged inept law enforcement. On the ground, the AAP felt that keeping the issue going was allowing the opposition to win the “perception war” on the issue and the party had to do something to make a dent in it.
A leader from Malwa said, “Corruption is something that has badly affected the people of Punjab and the AAP government understands how important it is.”
The opposition termed Mann’s address as an attempt to divert from the main issue of deteriorating law and order situation. He said, “The Chief Minister is silent on everything that disturbs the law and order of the state. Why no action has been taken on Amritpal, why are law enforcement agencies silent on the Ajnala incident?” Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa asked.
He said that the state government cannot abdicate its responsibility by sponsoring interviews of jailed and murder accused. Bajwa said, “Blaming the previous Congress government and not accepting its failure is something this government has mastered.”
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