Punjab Newsline | Moga
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday addressed a Lok Milni (public outreach) program in Chadik village of Moga, where he highlighted the achievements of his four-and-a-half-year tenure and launched a sharp attack on opposition leaders.
Thanking residents for attending despite the intense heat, Mann said his government inherited several long-pending challenges that required time and sustained efforts to resolve. He described the agriculture sector as one of the first areas his administration focused on.
Chief Minister said farmers earlier had to irrigate their fields late at night, exposing them to risks such as snake bites and harsh weather conditions. He remarked that previous leaders, including opposition figures, had never experienced the hardships faced by farmers working in fields during the night.
Mann claimed his government reformed irrigation schedules after consulting officials, ensuring that farmers now receive canal water during the daytime, generally between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., instead of late-night hours.
Chief Minister also highlighted his government's recruitment policy, stating that government jobs are now being filled strictly on merit without political recommendations or monetary influence. He said ministers, MLAs, and officials had been instructed that no appointments would be made through favoritism or bribery.
Sharing an anecdote, Mann claimed that an MLA once requested a government job for a preferred candidate who had scored lower marks than others. He said he rejected the request, insisting that the recruitment process would remain merit-based and advising the candidate to reappear in the examination the following year.
Addressing the gathering, Mann challenged anyone who had secured a government job through payment or recommendation during his tenure to come forward. He contrasted his administration with previous governments and alleged that corruption had been widespread under earlier regimes, specifically naming Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal while accusing past governments of taking money for public works.
The Chief Minister reiterated that his government remains committed to transparent governance, farmer welfare, and clean recruitment practices.
