AAP government has won the trust of the people by taking back the security of ex-ministers, giving compensation for ruined crops, launching an anti-corruption helpline, and announcing 25,000 government jobs: Arvind Kejriwal
This is a fabulous beginning for AAP, people’s hope in us is turning into firm confidence and trust: Arvind Kejriwal
On one hand, we have administered the oath, formed the new cabinet, and have started working for the people of Punjab, and on the other hand, BJP is still unable to form its government in 4 states, let alone work for the people: Arvind Kejriwal
No one should sit in Chandigarh, MLAs must go among the people, listen to their problems: Arvind Kejriwal
People of Punjab have defeated popular stalwarts, they will also defeat you if you brag about your rank or position: Arvind Kejriwal
Meet MLAs/ministers for the welfare of the people, but please don’t dare to ask for favors for SP, DC, and SHO postings: Arvind Kejriwal
I can bear with anything, but I can never tolerate dishonesty, corruption, and theft of public money: Arvind Kejriwal
We have to work with the teachers, doctors, police, and tehsildars to change the system in Punjab: Arvind Kejriwal
We have to win hearts, have to work for the welfare of the people to gain their love and trust: Arvind Kejriwal
We have to win the hearts of Punjabis in the next 5 years, these leaders themselves should be voting for us along with their family members for the next term: Arvind Kejriwal
If my signature can help light the stove in somebody’s house then there will be no greater virtue than this: Bhagwant Mann
If you work on recommendations, then you are killing someone else’s rights, AAP does not work on recommendations: Bhagwant Mann
We should not get into caste, we should not do any discrimination, please help those who are downtrodden and oppressed: Bhagwant Mann
New Delhi/Punjab:
The Aam Aadmi Party and its Punjab Government has become the talk of the town in just three days. AAP National Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal applauded the new MLAs for their wonderful work in this short span as he held a virtual meeting with all AAP MLAs in Punjab today. This was the first virtual address by Shri Kejriwal after the Aam Aadmi Party’s landslide victory in Punjab. All Punjab MLAs, including Punjab CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann, were present in the virtual meeting from Mohali, Punjab. Shri Kejriwal stated — The AAP government has won the trust of the people by taking back the security of ex-ministers, giving compensation for ruined crops, launching an anti-corruption helpline, and announcing 25,000 government jobs. This is a fabulous beginning for AAP, people’s hope in us is turning into firm confidence and trust. On one hand, we have administered the oath, formed the new cabinet, and have started working for the people of Punjab, and on the other hand, BJP is still unable to form its government in 4 states, let alone work for the people. No one should sit in Chandigarh, MLAs must go among the people, listen to their problems. People of Punjab have defeated popular stalwarts, they will also defeat you if you brag about your rank or position. Meet MLAs/ministers for the welfare of the people, but please don’t dare to ask for favors for SP, DC, and SHO postings. I can bear with anything, but I can never tolerate dishonesty, corruption, and theft of public money. We have to work with the teachers, doctors, police, and tehsildars to change the system in Punjab. We have to win hearts, have to work for the welfare of the people to gain their love and trust. We have to win the hearts of Punjabis in the next 5 years. These leaders themselves should be voting for us along with their family members for the next term.
At the same time, Punjab CM Shri Bhagwant Mann said, “If my signature can help light the stove in somebody’s house then there will be no greater virtue than this. If you work on recommendations, then you are killing someone else’s rights, AAP does not work on recommendations. We should not get into caste, we should not do any discrimination, please help those who are downtrodden and oppressed.”
Congratulating Punjab AAP MLAs for the victory, Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “I am both elated and emotional today because of two reasons. First, the people of Punjab have elected us with a huge margin, eradicating all the old leaders from Punjab. Second, the way in which Bhagwant Mann Ji has worked in Punjab is tremendous, he was sworn in on 16th March, and the whole world is talking about the wonderful work done by Mann Saab in just three days. We are really proud of you, Mann Saab. Entire Punjab was invited during your oath ceremony, and the 1 crore people of Punjab took oath along with you. I received messages and calls from Manu people, who told me that they took oath in front of their televisions. It was the first time that the people of Punjab felt that they were being elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab. The security given to the ministers and VIPs in the government was removed and were instead deputed for the security of the people of Punjab. The compensation for crops that were damaged in October last year was still pending. In just 3-4 days, the due compensation to the farmers was cleared and I am being told that their cheques will be handed over to them in another 3-4 days.”
He said, “Just like Delhi, an anti-corruption action line was launched in Punjab two days back. I am getting messages and calls from Punjab. Somebody told me how because of the action line, they got their registry done without having to give any bribe. A Dhaba owner told me that the police have started paying for the food he eats in the Dhaba. Unemployment is the biggest issue in Punjab today. The announcement of 25000 government jobs in Punjab has built the trust of the people in the government. The people of Punjab witnessed the progress made by AAP in Delhi, which made them vote for AAP in Punjab. But, the announcements made in the last 3-4 days have turned this chance into confidence and trust. I want to congratulate you on the work done by you and I hope that you keep working for the welfare of the people of Punjab with the same dedication.”
“On one hand, we have formed the government, taken an oath, and formed the new cabinet in Punjab, and on the other hand, BJP, who was elected in 4 states, is still unable to form the government. They are still conflicted over who to elect as ministers or the CM in those states, let alone form the government and work for the people,” added the CM.
He said, “I want to congratulate the newly-elected ministers from Punjab. I pray to God that with your dedication, hard work, and honesty, you are able to fulfill the expectations of the people of Punjab. Each and every person will be closely monitored. We have very little time, these parties have wasted 75 years since Indian independence. Each minister will be given timely targets. Each minister has to work very hard, they should work 30 out of 24 hours a day. In case these targets are not fulfilled, the decision to keep or change the minister will be of the public. I was listening to Mann Saab’s speech the other day, he was right in telling the ministers to not sit in the offices in Chandigarh. When a person is elected, they usually tend to get accustomed to government vehicles, bungalows, and the treatment. But this is a bad habit. Each and every volunteer, MLA, and minister should always be on the field and amongst the public to listen to the problems of the people.”
“I have heard that those MLAs who could not be elected as ministers are disappointed. We have got 92 seats, only 17 out of you could have been appointed as cabinet ministers. I know each and every one of you. 90-95% of you have fought in the elections for the first time. Did you ever think that you will be elected as MLAs from Punjab? Many of you come from a very simple background and many popular leaders have lost in front of you. Don’t forget, it is not you but the people of Punjab who have defeated them. Do not think about the positions and ranks you are getting. Work so hard that your work speaks about you, and people start admiring you and loving you because of your work. Some people say that a certain position was their right, but do not forget that it is a democratic system, and people have the right to remove anybody, be it a CM or an MLA. People before us also thought that they have the right to become a CM or a minister, but they were removed within seconds. Please don’t do anything that makes the public doubt us. We have to work and win the hearts of the people. You can visit the ministers if you want to work for the people, but please do not ask for favors for DC and SP postings. I have heard of a system where favors were being taken for official postings. I am certain that Mann Saab and his cabinet will appoint only good and honest officials. If an official does not fulfill their duties or indulges in corruption, the cabinet will take strict action against the official. You have to work with sheer honesty,” said the CM.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “We have time and again said that we are an honest party, Bhagwant Mann is an honest CM and we will form an honest government in Punjab. I can bear anything, but I can never bear corruption and theft of public money. If you indulge in any form of corruption, you will never get another chance. If you are unable to complete the targets, maybe we can give you one or two chances to complete the work. Strict action will be taken against any leader who is found indulging in corruption. Many MLAs are doing on-ground inspections, visiting local schools, local hospitals, and local offices. But please do not misbehave, do not threaten the officials. You are an MLA now, you have your CM and your ministers. You now have a pen that is mightier than the sword. We have to respect everybody, be it the opposition or the officials. And it is not the fault of the officials, or the teachers or the doctors, it is the fault of the system. For example, before AAP formed a government in Delhi, the schools and hospitals were in a miserable condition. We respected each and every teacher and doctor working in the government schools and colleges. They did wonders and the system changed. We have to work with the same teachers, the same doctors, and the same tehsildars to change the system. You must talk to all people with folded hands while asking them to change for the better. If you feel some official is not working, inform the CM and strict action will be taken against them.”
“We also got to know that the family members of some of the opposition leaders have also voted for AAP. We have to win the hearts of Punjabis in the next 5 years, these leaders themselves should be voting for us the next time along with their family members. I want to thank the people of Punjab. I salute all the volunteers who have worked day and night to achieve this. I want to congratulate Mann Saab and all the MLAs who have been elected. Mann Saab is a great leader and led his army with force. I also want to congratulate Punjab in-charge Shri Jarnail Singh and co in-charge Shri Raghav Chadha for the victory. In the end, I also want to congratulate Shri Sandeep Pathak who was always behind the screen but raised a huge army of supporters and volunteers in Punjab and led all the Punjab campaigns. Congratulations and good luck to all,” he added.
Some terminology is being used on social media which is not worth listening to, this is not what we do: Bhagwant Mann
At the same time, the ‘AAP’ Punjab leader and CM Bhagwant Mann, while addressing the virtual meeting, said, “The people have given us a huge majority. In many places we could not even go for the election campaign, we got votes from there also. Now it is our duty that we go everywhere many houses were left while the door to door campaigning, now we have to visit such homes too. We should not look at their vote share but resolve their problems. We are their MLAs and ministers and their CM too. A lot of people come and earn, but if one signature changes the lives of an elderly person who has his/her children to feed, there is no greater good than this. If children get help in their studies, then I feel that there will be no greater virtue than this. God resides in people. Very often when children with special needs used to come to me, they also knew the symbol of broom, Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. I don’t know the disguise of Narayan. In what form do you meet God? There have been some complaints that some such terminology is being used on social media which is not worth listening to. This is not what we do. When I used to do roadshows, some youth would get excited, at the same time roadshows were stopped. We didn’t come to scare people. We are here to tell people with folded hands that together we should create ‘Rangla Punjab’ again”.
If you do people’s work on recommendation, then you are killing someone else’s right: Bhagwant Mann
CM Bhagwant Mann said that there are many such people who have won by 60-75 thousand votes. “One crore people voted for us and sent us here. If anyone needs to improve, talk with love, don’t be intimidated. Earlier it used to happen that someone used to order and someone else used to get suspended. Somebody kept getting the wrong work done and someone else used to be suspended. Now, that won’t happen. 25000 government jobs have been promised and within a month their recruitment, advertisement, and notification will be issued. Many people will come to you for that, if you do the work of these people on the recommendation, then it means you are killing someone else’s rights. Aam Aadmi Party does not work on recommendations. In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal takes notice of everything. Once, a slip of Rs 2 was being issued to buy medicine in a government hospital in Delhi. Chief Minister himself went and inquired why Rs 2 is being taken. While we have made everything free, the Chief Minister who can go himself to save 2 rupees, how can that Chief Minister bear the loss of crores of people?”
If you want to save your seat, then you have to maintain strong friendships with people: Bhagwant Mann
He further said that survey of every MLA and minister will also be done. “If you want to secure your seat, then you have to maintain a strong friendship with people. If you will not work for the people, the report will come to us. I and the party have hope and confidence from all of you. The ministry portfolio will be announced soon. Do more, don’t give false recommendations, and don’t stop doing good things. That is why lawyers, doctors, social workers, singers, businessmen, different classes have sent us here. We should not go by caste, we should not discriminate. Help those who are downtrodden. Open your office every day and come to the office on time. People should not have to wait for you. Be punctual. We have to take care that not even an hour is wasted in a day. Have to work 18-18 hours a day. There should be only one goal that Punjab should be made ‘Rangla Punjab’. My only request is that we have to walk together. Negative things should be ignored.”