Fazilka, March 22 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday criticized the opposition Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), alleging that these parties "plundered" the state when they were in power and were now joining hands to ruin it.
Addressing a rally, Mann urged the people to come together to oust these parties and expressed confidence that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will win more than 100 seats in 2027 to form the government again due to its "people-friendly and development-oriented policies".
The massive support shown by the people is a testament to the fact that people are waiting to teach traditional parties a lesson again, the chief minister said.
Their leaders want to ruin the state by patronizing drugs and criminals, which is why people ousted them from power, he alleged.
Now all these "anti-Punjab forces have joined hands to ruin Punjab, and it is time for Punjabis to also come together to oust them", said Mann.
His remarks came on a day when the Congress, SAD, and the BJP organized a joint protest in Chandigarh to demand the arrest of former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, who is accused of abetting the suicide of a state warehousing corporation official.
"In the last four years, the state government has done more work than others have done in 70 years," Mann said.
"The AAP government is working tirelessly for the welfare of the people, while rival parties have always sought a share in successful ventures during their days in power," Mann alleged.
Taking a dig at the SAD's 'Punjab Bachao (save Punjab) Yatra', he said its real name is "parivar bachao (save Family) yatra".
"After looting the state for 15 years, from whom are they trying to save Punjab? The Akalis have plundered the state mercilessly, emotionally bruised the Punjabis, and patronized several mafias," he alleged.
People are well aware of the "dubious character" of the Akalis and the Badal family, "which is why their theatrics won't work now", said Mann.
He accused Akali leaders of patronizing gangsters and "infusing drugs into the veins of young people by shielding drug smugglers".
The Akali Dal has always "misused" religion for their vested political interests, but this time the people of the state will not be swayed by it, said Mann.
Targeting the Congress, Mann said, "Congress leaders are daydreaming about assuming power in the state."
"The Congress party is a divided house that will collapse due to infighting. It is a pity that top Congress leaders are squabbling for power and have no vision for the state.
"Their only aim is to plunder the wealth of Punjab by assuming power, but their dreams will never be fulfilled," he said.
"Earlier, these traditional parties just waited for their turn to grab power, but now there is a broom to clean up the mess created by these parties," said Mann.