Mann Accuses Opposition of Family-First Politics While Distributing Rs 271 Crore SC Scholarships
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday launched a scathing attack on opposition parties, alleging that the Congress, Akalis, and BJP remained preoccupied with family interests while his Aam Aadmi Party government focused squarely on securing the future of the state's children.
Scholarship Distribution Marks Governance Shift
Mann made these remarks while addressing a gathering after distributing scholarships worth Rs 271 crore under the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme to Scheduled Caste students in Jalandhar. According to an official statement, the Chief Minister said this initiative under Mission Rangla Punjab reflects a fundamental shift in governance priorities.
Highlighting a significant 35 per cent rise in beneficiaries since 2020-21, Mann emphasized that this surge resulted from genuine education reforms rather than token gestures. He stressed that these scholarships represent more than mere financial assistance—they serve as powerful tools for student self-reliance, correcting years of systemic neglect that had plagued the education sector.
Allegations of Past Mismanagement and Corruption
The AAP leader made serious allegations about the scheme's history, claiming that between 2017 and 2020, the scholarship program was virtually stalled. This stagnation reportedly led educational institutions to withhold degrees from deserving students who couldn't afford tuition fees.
"A scam took place under this scheme and every Punjabi was anguished by it," Mann alleged. "The then minister in charge of the department betrayed his own community by illegally minting money meant for the education of children from weaker sections."
According to Mann's statements, funds specifically allocated for SC students were usurped during previous administrations, depriving countless young people of their rightful educational opportunities and potentially altering their life trajectories.
Education as Transformative Force
Mann articulated a clear philosophy behind his government's educational initiatives, stating: "Education is the only key to changing the destiny of the weaker and underprivileged sections. Unfortunately, successive governments deliberately kept these students away from books."
The Chief Minister connected the scholarship scheme to broader principles of social justice, rooting it in Babasaheb Ambedkar's belief that education represents the most powerful weapon available to eliminate social inequality and create a more equitable society.
"No freebie or concession card can eliminate poverty or social evils," Mann asserted. "Education alone can break this vicious cycle by raising living standards and providing genuine opportunities for upward mobility."
Contrasting Governance Approaches
The event served as a platform for Mann to draw sharp contrasts between his government's approach and those of previous administrations. While accusing opposition parties of engaging in "family-first politics," he positioned the AAP government as fundamentally committed to prioritizing the needs of Punjab's youth and marginalized communities.
This scholarship distribution represents one of the largest such initiatives in recent Punjab history and signals the state government's intensified focus on educational accessibility as a cornerstone of its development agenda.
