Chandigarh, March 9 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday accused the ruling AAP in Punjab of creating obstacles during his visits to the state.
Saini further criticized the Bhagwant Mann-led government for distributing freebies at the end of their term while failing to fulfill promises to the people, arguing that this is not helping as people have made up their minds to vote them out.
Saini stated that the people of Punjab are disillusioned with the AAP government and will vote them out in the upcoming elections.
Saini has been frequently visiting Punjab in recent months, where he has also addressed public meetings.
"When I go to hold events in Punjab, my events are being shifted to different venues. This is not democracy. They should not do this. In one of my events, the tent was uprooted and the area was dug up to prevent the tent from being set up again. This is what they are doing," he alleged.
"They are stopping buses carrying BJP workers wherever I go. This is similar to what Mamata Banerjee does in West Bengal. In a democracy, common people do not like such tactics. They will express their opinion during elections," Saini told reporters.
Last month, when the Haryana chief minister was headed to a rally venue in Ludhiana, AAP workers waved black flags and raised slogans against him.
Again last month, several AAP leaders, including MLAs, staged a protest against Saini during his visit to Amritsar for a "Punjab Bachao" rally.
The AAP leaders waved black flags and protested against his arrival, claiming that the BJP has consistently taken an "anti-Punjab stand".
Saini said the ruling party in Punjab will not get votes this way. "If they had done some work, they would not need to block my way," he said.
"When Mann came to Haryana, I asked the police to give him a guard of honor and respect. We respect the office he holds, he is the chief minister. But what is the situation in Punjab? Wherever I go, AAP workers are standing with flags," he alleged.
Saini further stated that women and farmers, among other groups, are unhappy. "What is the situation with law and order? The drug problem is affecting the youth, and Mann should have taken action," he said, accusing the Punjab chief minister of trying to "magically" resolve the issue.
He was referring to the AAP government's new scheme launched on Sunday, which provides Rs 1,000 per month to women from the general category and Rs 1,500 to women from Scheduled Castes.
"The Haryana chief minister said that the AAP government presented their final budget yesterday, in which they are distributing 'freebies'," he said, citing the upcoming elections in the state, which will be held early next year.
"During the Congress government's time in Punjab, there was a culture of 'freebies', but now AAP is offering bigger 'freebies' and making promises, which they do not fulfill. The people of Punjab have understood this and want to get rid of the AAP rule," he said.
In Delhi, people voted out the AAP government, and now the people of Punjab will vote them out, he asserted.
Saini said that the BJP government has fulfilled key promises made to women in Haryana within the first year of their third term.
"We had promised that women with an annual income of Rs 1 lakh would receive (financial assistance of Rs 2,100). Now, in this year's budget, we have increased the limit to Rs 1.80 lakh," he said.
Saini expressed concern over the alleged use of force on employees, including women, who were protesting for their rights on International Women's Day in Mohali, and termed the incident "deeply unfortunate".
He said that such actions send the wrong message, especially on a day dedicated to recognizing and respecting the contributions and rights of women.
The Haryana government, on the other hand, organized a state-level event in Sirsa on the day and transferred benefits worth crores of rupees directly into the bank accounts of women beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, the chief minister said.
Saini also criticized "lapses" during President Droupadi Murmu's event in West Bengal and said Mamata Banerjee "has crossed all limits".
President Murmu on Saturday expressed her dismay over a low turnout at a tribal community event near Bagdogra airport, and questioned the decision to shift the venue from Bidhannagar.
"I had earlier visited West Bengal, and I am attending a programme in the state on Tuesday," Saini said, alleging that there is an atmosphere of fear among the people of the state.
"People are demanding extortion money," the Haryana chief minister further alleged.
Referring to the Punjab government's 'Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana', which provides medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per family, Saini said that the people of Punjab have told him that numerous conditions have been put in this scheme, and it will be difficult for people to avail the benefit. Meanwhile, 27 lakh people in Haryana have received treatment under the Chirayu Ayushman Yojana, he added.
According to Saini, people of Punjab are impressed with the Narendra Modi government's policies "and they know that the BJP will make Punjab number 1 state like we have made Haryana".
Citing the old age pension of Rs 3,200 offered in Haryana, he further claimed that the AAP government has only made "false" promises to the elderly of Punjab.