Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress and the BJP, accusing decades of traditional political rule of deliberately neglecting education and public welfare while promoting dynastic politics.
Addressing a gathering in Sardulgarh after laying the foundation stone of a Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Fatehgarh Sahnewali village, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said previous regimes kept Punjab’s youth deprived of quality education while ensuring power remained within their own families. The new ITI, to be constructed at a cost of around ₹24.50 crore, will have a capacity of 240 students annually and offer courses in Electrician, Mechanic Electric Vehicle, Refrigeration & Air Conditioner Technician, Industrial Robotics & Digital Manufacturing Technician, and CNC Machining Technician.
CM @BhagwantMann ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਰੀ @msisodia ਨਾਲ ਅੱਜ ਮਾਨਸਾ ਦੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਫ਼ਤਹਿਗੜ੍ਹ ਸਾਹਨੇਵਾਲੀ ਵਿਖੇ ਨਵੀਂ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ITI ਦਾ ਨੀਂਹ ਪੱਥਰ ਰੱਖਿਆ। ਇਸ ITI ਵਿੱਚ 240 ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਸਮਰੱਥਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ਼ ਇਲਾਕੇ ਦੇ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੱਡਾ ਫ਼ਾਇਦਾ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ CM ਮਾਨ ਨੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਇਕੱਠ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਇਲਾਕੇ… pic.twitter.com/0MrlbjGngF
— AAP Punjab (@AAPPunjab) February 24, 2026
Bhagwant Mann said the state government is utilizing every penny of the exchequer transparently for public welfare and asserted that Punjab is now running on a “new engine of development,” unlike what he described as the outdated politics of the BJP, Akali Dal and Congress. Taking a swipe at the Akali Dal’s “Punjab Bachao Yatra,” he termed it a “Parivar Bachao Yatra,” alleging that the party’s leadership had looted the state during its tenure and was now attempting to regain relevance.
Bhagwant Mann also criticised the Akalis for supporting the Centre’s now-repealed farm laws, claiming they had prioritized ministerial positions over farmers’ interests. Targeting the BJP, he said the party was relying on defectors from other political outfits and that such a strategy would not succeed in Punjab.
Bhagwant Mann Govt Positions Education as Key to State’s Future Prosperity
Highlighting his government’s focus on education, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said 118 Schools of Eminence have been set up across the state, with teachers sent to Finland and Singapore for advanced training. He said the aim is to ensure that access to quality education becomes the defining marker of prosperity in Punjab.
On welfare initiatives, Mann stated that over 90% of households are receiving free electricity and that farmers are now being supplied power during the daytime. He said the state government had also purchased a private thermal plant, contrasting it with what he described as the Centre’s policy of privatizing public assets.
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In the healthcare sector, he said 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been established, providing free medicines and diagnostic tests. He also highlighted the launch of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, offering cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family. Additionally, he said canal water usage for irrigation has increased significantly, and thousands of watercourses have been revived to benefit farmers.
The Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the launch of the ‘Meri Rasoi Yojna,’ under which 40 lakh families will receive free quarterly food kits containing essential items such as pulses, sugar, salt, turmeric and mustard oil, in addition to wheat distributed under the National Food Security Act.
Detailing development works in the Sardulgarh region, Bhagwant Mann said two new bridges are being constructed at a cost of ₹17.31 crore to ease connectivity for 27 villages near the Ghaggar river. Several healthcare projects, including a Mohalla Clinic, a Health & Wellness Centre and a Block Public Health Unit, are also being developed. Infrastructure works such as road upgrades, new watercourses, power grid expansion and sewerage projects worth several crores are underway.
He further announced that the Sardulgarh Government Hospital will be upgraded to a 100-bed facility.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who was present at the event, said the project would boost regional development and reflect the party’s commitment to honest governance. Cabinet Ministers Harjot Singh Bains and Gurmeet Singh Khudian also addressed the gathering, reiterating the government’s focus on health, education and employment generation.
The event was attended by several party leaders and local representatives.