Tag: AAP In Punjab

Sukhbir Singh attacked the AAP in Punjab

There Is No Govt In Punjab: Sukhbir Badal

By LokMarg

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal has attacked the AAP government in Punjab over the law and order situation in the state after a Shiv Sena leader was shot dead in Amritsar on Friday.

Badal said that “there is no such thing as a government in Punjab” while attacking the government.
“Shiromani Akali Dal has always stood for peace and communal harmony and that remained the top priority of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal-led govts since 1997. Today’s incident in Amritsar is yet another reminder that there is no such thing as a govt in Punjab,” he said.

He further said that there is a collapse of law and order and appealed to the Punjab government to preserve peace in the state.

“There is an absolute collapse of will to govern, maintain peace, law, and order and to ensure safety and security of life & property of people. Violence in any form is highly condemnable. Those in charge of running the state must not take peace & communal harmony in Punjab for granted,” he said.

“I appeal to them to find time from their politicking to attend to the sensitive and most crucial task of preserving peace. I appeal to the people and to all political parties to join hands for a united initiative to save Punjab and Punjabis from any conspiracy to set the state ablaze,” he said further.

Earlier today, a Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri died after being shot at in Amritsar.

The firing took place near Gopal Mandir in Amritsar during an agitation. Soon after the incident, Suri was rushed to a hospital where he died. Police arrived at the spot and arrested the accused. Police also recovered the weapons.

“Sudhir Suri was shot outside Gopal Mandir, Amritsar during some agitation. He sustained bullet injuries and was rushed to hospital and died. The accused has been arrested. His weapons are recovered,” Arun Pal Singh, Commissioner of Police, Amritsar said. (ANI)

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‘If AAP Fails To Deliver, Punjabis Will Never Forgive It’

By LokMarg

Jashan Gill, a Punjab voter who defied family loyalties to pick AAP over Akali Dal and Congress, says the party stands at a juncture from where it can make or break its future

In 2014 General Election, it was for the first time that I voted for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Punjab has been enthusiastic about the party since its inception. And this was the reason, four AAP candidates were elected to the Lok Sabha on their debut contest from the state.

In the assembly election of 2017, the AAP emerged as the main opposition with 20 seats. And now, in 2022, eight years since its journey began in Punjab, the party has been able to form government in the state with a clear mandate. Punjab’s voters found them as a viable alternative to the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal.

This change was impending for long. Both the SAD and the Congress had been unable to fulfil the expectations of the people of Punjab. The border regions of the state have been infested with drugs menace and there is widespread belief that the SAD has a vested interest in it. During their rule, the corruption in the state also reached at its zenith.

Punjabis therefore rooted out the Badal government in 2017 in favour of the Congress. But the Congress didn’t fulfil its promises either. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh became too complacent after the win and forgot about his poll promises of development.

The situation at the party further deteriorated when inside scuffle broke out in the open, making it a laughing stock. The chaos was too much to bear. Even during election people didn’t know who would be the chief minister of the state if the Congress came to the power.

Gill (left) says Punjab has high expectations from Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal

This clearly turned people’s attention towards the AAP leadership. The party projected Bhagwant Mann as the chief ministerial candidate in the state election and the decision found favour with the voters. For, in the past eight years, since 2014 general election, Mann has done commendable work in his constituency and showed his commitment towards the people. It was no surprise that Punjab gave him a chance to work for the entire state.

ALSO READ: Punjab Will Reclaim It Glory Under AAP Leadership

We have already started witnessing the change since AAP came to power in the state. The first priority of the party, which was about stopping corruption has already been enforced. The government employees, who would brazenly ask for bribes earlier, are now scared of making such demands from people. They are afraid of stern actions now.

The conditions of hospitals and schools in the state is already showing improvement. You can visit a hospital and feel the change in the atmosphere. We believe that Mann government will also address the issue of drugs soon. Farmers too have a lot of expectations from this new government. They believe that the AAP leadership will find a solution to receding water table and provide minimum support price for all their crops.

If the party successfully fulfils its promise in the state, it will pave a path for the party to emerge as an alternative to the BJP in other states and eventually at the Centre. As an AAP supporter I hope that it emerges as a challenger in states like Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana where elections are likely to happen late this year.

AAP is standing at a crucial juncture in Punjab from where it can write its own future. Punjabis have put their faith in AAP and if they fail to keep their promises, the people will never forgive them. It will be uprooted from the state once and for all. The people of Punjab have voted for development and they will not settle for anything except development.

As told to Md Tausif Alam

‘Punjab Will Rise And Flourish Again’

By LokMarg

Tejinder Singh, 60, district president (Jalandhar) of Aam Aadmi Party, says party office is flooded with calls from people to act as volunteers

I have been associated with the Aam Aadmi Party since 2016 and I feel very elated that the people of Punjab have given us such an overwhelming majority in state Assembly. It will help us to bring about required changes in the state now easily. People are super happy too because everyone wanted change, logon ko azadi mil gayi hai.

Earlier governance was moving at a snail’s pace and the common man’s work would languish. But people have put their faith in AAP because they know we care, after all our candidates are all ordinary folks, people who understands concerns of the common man.

Our whole office was abuzz with extraordinary energy on the day the results were declared. Sweets were distributed among the party workers and we met up and congratulated each other. We had expected a good performance but we had not expected such a humongous response to our efforts. I feel satisfied that we were able to convince people to give us a chance to genuinely serve them, especially in the area of education, healthcare etc.

Tejinder Singh (in yellow turban) celebrates party win in Assembly elections

We started door to door campaigning nearly 2.5 years ago and actively listened to the concerns of the people from every section of society. People have voted beyond caste and community lines for good governance. After all at the end of the day everyone wants to feel secure about basic facilities, which we are determined to provide. Be it rural or urban areas, we reached out and people responded.

ALSO READ: ‘Punjab Will Reclaim Its Glory Under AAP’

Every day hundreds of calls are pouring in and people want to volunteer for us; people love the idea of being a part of governance. The good work done in Delhi served as a point of reference for most voters, however it wouldn’t be wise to say that the socio-economic concerns of the two states are the same. Issues like drug menace will take longer to uproot and lots of local leaders will need to step up.  

We are determined to help Punjab flourish once again. When the farmers protests were going on we didn’t lose sight of many other concerns that were equally important and I am glad that we have got the votes of farmers as well. People were determined to vote for change this time no matter what and iss bar sabnein ankhein khol ke vote diya.

One of the reasons people also trusted the AAP was because of our groundwork during the pandemic as well as during the vaccination stage. We got ourselves vaccinated first so that people could see it was safe and that it worked. We hope to continue with the same leadership style; we will face the problems first head on so that they don’t reach common people.

The BJP, Akali Dal, Congress will now understand how important it is to connect with people at an emotional level. We believe the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Bhagwant Mann will usher Punjab towards a golden future.

As Told To Yog Maya Singh

‘Punjab Will Reclaim Its Glory Under AAP Leadership’

By LokMarg

Anu Mann, an AAP supporter in Chandigarh, says the party leaders are grounded and have a connect with the people, unlike its erstwhile rulers

At 54 years of age, my generation has grown up with Punjab. I have witnessed Punjab at its peak during the Green Revolution and then at its lowest during the turbulent 80s. Things started looking somewhat bright during the 1990s but by mid-2000s they took a turn for the worse again.

From being the breadbasket of the country, we the Punjabis gradually began losing our identity as a prosperous state to ‘Udta Punjab’. Drug abuse began taking hold in almost every family. Villages after village lost their youth and men to the drug menace with women left behind to pick up the pieces, industries slowed down, corruption rose up, education took a hit, and Punjabis began leaving for greener pastures like Canada.

With Aam Aadmi Party’s electoral sweep, a hope has been rekindled that we have turned the corner. Punjab will reclaim its glory; we shall flourish again.

Personally, I feel liberated. I have travelled and lived around the country, but one always wants to come back to the roots. I used to feel sad at the sheer level of corruption, lack of jobs and good education, the lazy leadership, especially that of Captain Amarinder Singh who never mingled much with people. Sidhu has been and remains a crass leader.

Mann says she has grown up with Punjab and seen both its low point and high point

I had given up all hopes of a good leadership taking root in Punjab until AAP brought in its refreshing governance style. Of course the road for the Bhagwant Mann-led government is going to be long and difficult but given how they have managed Delhi, I have high hopes for Punjab in the coming years. I have myself worked at a summer teaching programme of AAP in Delhi government schools and I was impressed how AAP involves ordinary people in their governance apparatus.

ALSO READ: Now, Punjab Has A Future

This election result saw seasoned political personalities humiliated by common, first-time contestants (like mobile shop owner Labh Singh who defeated Channi). I feel the happiest about the victory of Jeevan Jyot Kaur who defeated Majithia and Navjot Sidhu because women’s issues will now get the spotlight. There are 13 doctors who have been elected as MLAs; they will definitely feel the pulse of the people, both literally and metaphorically.

Bhagwant Mann’s passionate involvement, unlike Amarinder Singh’s ivory tower life, in everyday matters of the state is a refreshing change. AAP ke sare candidates dharti se jude hue log hain, samaj se jude hue log hain (AAP leaders have an ear to the ground, they have a connect with the masses).

All in all, the victory of AAP in Punjab is truly the victory of ordinary people. AAP’s campaigning was also totally fuss-free, they neither disturbed nor bribed voters, maybe other parties would do well to learn from them.

Mann in a celebratory mood after AAP victory

I was so happy and excited on the day of election results that I distributed mithais, made a celebratory dance video and sent it to my loved ones. And I couldn’t stop talking to my friends about how happy I was. Mann needs a lot of cooperation from people and I hope the janta will give it to him.

Assembly Elections in Punjab

‘AAP Will Win Punjab Polls; Farmers Morcha Needs Time’

By LokMarg

Rajni Sharma, a school teacher from Hoshiarpur, says with several new players in the field, Assembly elections in Punjab will be an interesting battle to watch

I keep a sharp eye on the changing political landscape, be it at the state level or pan-India. The upcoming Punjab elections seem poised for an interesting battle between candidates. Given the fact that this time a lot of outside parties like AAP, TMC and BSP (in coalition with another party) are in the fray against parties that have deep rooted cadres, it would be interesting to see which way the wind blows.

I’m interested in seeing how former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s party, the Punjab Lok Congress does in these elections. He had promised smartphones to young students during the pandemic but didn’t keep his word, and many youngsters suffered due to lack of means to afford online studies. It is an important factor.

Personally, from Hoshiarpur I would love to see the Congress candidate, Sangat Singh Ji win and represent us. He has been a fabulous representative and is always there for every event where people request his presence, be it social events or other pressing matters. We know how much an able leader makes us feel safe during these times of the pandemic. He did a great job during the starting of the pandemic and even until now, helping provide rations, listening to people’s concerns etc.

At the state level I firmly believe it is AAP that will win and Bhagwant Mann will become the CM. Given his young age and the ground work he has done in the last five years, people seem to have taken a liking for him. He recently talked about how no farmer works in isolation and thus we need to find collective solutions for farming in villages as a whole. I loved this point that he made. I don’t believe that other party will be able to cut votes of AAP to a great level, because frankly people are fed up of the inability of parties like the Shiromani Akali Dal to sort out the drugs issue for good.

Sharma wants Bhagwant Mann to be the next Chief Minister of Punjab

I teach at the Guru Gobind Singh Public School, Nainowal Vaid and I have personally seen how a good leader can change the whole system and put people at ease. Our school chairman ensured that not a single person from any job category lost their jobs during the pandemic although the school was closed for nearly 1.5 years. I expect the same level of efficacy and concern from our top leaders. They should ensure ke kisi ke ghar ka chulha nahi bujhna chahiye…khas kar kisano ka.

ALSO READ: Who Will Win Punjab?

The farmers protest will definitely play a major role in these elections. However, the local farmer unions aren’t supporting the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha party floated by the big farmers unions. I think the party needs to do a lot of groundwork before they can make a space in people’s heart. Where I stay a major portion of the young population lives in foreign countries. All parties have to take other issues into account along with farmers issue and also talk to the youth in their language.

My children as well as other kids in our extended family are all batting for Bhagwant Mann as CM for they feel he is a vocal person and that’s the need of the hour; someone who doesn’t back down when talking about the issues of Punjab. Farmers should definitely contest elections, but I think it will take a few years before the SSM can make a major mark. Just the rolling back of Farm Bills won’t suffice for the population, other issues causing problems to farmers need to be sorted out too. And no matter whether SSM wins elections or not, they should ‘plough’ on about the issues impacting farmers at all levels.