Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar Criticizes Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Over Assembly Resolution
In a sharp political confrontation, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, questioning the rationale behind a recent resolution passed in the state Assembly. Jakhar demanded an immediate apology from Mann to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of Punjab, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's actions had created unnecessary panic over oil and gas supplies.
Jakhar Questions Contradiction in CM's Stance
Jakhar pointed out a glaring inconsistency in the chief minister's position. "If the CM now claims there is no shortage of oil and gas in Punjab, then why was a resolution passed in the Assembly against the central government?" he asked. According to Jakhar, this resolution led to widespread confusion and fear among residents, prompting hoarding behaviors despite no actual disruption in supply.
He elaborated, "The rumours which the chief minister is now appealing to stop were actually caused by the so-called condemnation resolution brought by the AAP government in the Assembly." This, Jakhar argued, exemplifies AAP's tendency to manipulate public opinion through misinformation, a tactic he believes Punjab's politically savvy populace can see through.
Demand for Withdrawal and Apology
The state BJP chief insisted that the Punjab government must take corrective action. "Since the situation is now clear, the Punjab government should withdraw the condemnation resolution passed in the previous Assembly session in the next session and apologise for the misinformation," he stated. Jakhar emphasized that this step is crucial to restore trust and clarity.
He further criticized Mann's delayed realizations, drawing a parallel to other issues. "Just as it took the CM six months to realise that ₹13,000 crore was lying in the disaster relief fund, similarly, it took him 15 days to understand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is capable of managing the country's needs and that there is no shortage of oil and gas," Jakhar remarked, highlighting what he views as governance lapses.
Praise for Central Government Policies
Jakhar praised the central government's strategic efforts, attributing the stable supply of resources to effective policies. "It is due to the success of the Government of India's foreign and trade policy that crude oil and gas are continuously being supplied to the country and there is no shortage anywhere," he asserted. He noted that supplies continue under the same foreign policy framework that Mann had previously criticized, underscoring the central leadership's foresight.
In conclusion, Jakhar reiterated that Punjab's citizens are too aware to be misled by such tactics. "It has always been AAP's policy to create confusion on every issue and shape public opinion based on falsehoods, but Punjab is not a state that can be misled easily. The people here are politically, economically, and socially aware, and they understand such tactics well," he said, calling for accountability from the state government.
