Chandigarh: The people of Punjab have suffered for decades from corruption, nepotism, and the waste of public money. Former Chief Ministers from the Akali Dal and Congress treated the public treasury as their personal property, squandering crores of rupees on foreign trips, yet sparing no money for the state’s development. These leaders’ luxury trips, shopping sprees, and family outings were squandered, while Punjab’s farmers, youth, and common people remained burdened with poverty, unemployment, and debt.
Today, the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Bhagwant Mann has completely ended this dark period, where every decision is taken in the public interest and transparency is paramount. Now, the sole purpose of foreign trips is to attract investment, set up factories, and create millions of jobs in Punjab, so that the state becomes economically strong and the future of the youth is secure. This change is not just political, but also a ray of hope for the people of Punjab, where corruption has been replaced by honesty and development.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is currently on a 10-day tour of Japan and South Korea, where he is organizing roadshows and high-level meetings to make Punjab an investment hub. During this visit, the Japanese company Toppan Specialty Films announced an investment of ₹400 crore in Punjab, which will create new employment opportunities in the state. During the roadshows in Tokyo and Osaka, Bhagwant Mann told Japanese industrialists that Punjab is now the safest and most profitable place for investment, with simple government policies and strong infrastructure. This strategy of the AAP government is a major step towards strengthening Punjab on a global scale, unlike ever before.
Now, consider past Chief Ministers, like Sukhbir Singh Badal, who, while Chief Minister, used government funds to indulge in pleasures like Dubai, London, and South Africa under the guise of foreign trips. These trips cost lakhs of rupees, including pocket money, but he returned empty-handed, with suitcases full of branded clothing and shoes for his family. Once, under the guise of a trip to South Africa, he stayed in Dubai and went shopping with his family, the entire bill paid for by Punjab’s taxes. Lakhs of rupees were also siphoned from the public treasury in the name of watching the London Olympics, while farmer suicides and unemployment were rising in Punjab.
Congress’ Charanjit Singh Channi was no slouch. After losing the 2022 elections, he immediately fled to Canada and the United States as soon as the ED investigation caught up with him. He continued to enjoy himself for months, staying with relatives and friends there, while in Punjab, ₹10 crore in cash was recovered from his nephew, Bhupinder Singh Honey, of which ₹8 crore was recovered from his relative. The ED conducted raids in the illegal sand mining case, but Channi remained hidden abroad to avoid investigation, and the people of Punjab suffered the consequences of his corruption. Spending foreign tours using government funds and then fleeing as soon as investigations begin is a long-standing practice of the Congress party, where leaders shirk their responsibilities and leave the state in chaos. Channi came to power by portraying himself as a common man, but the ED raids exposed his true image: crores of rupees in black money was amassed for his family. Such leaders kept Punjab away from development and encouraged corruption.
In contrast to all this, Bhagwant Mann is traveling abroad to establish factories in Punjab, provide jobs to youth, and bring progress to villages. The full account of his every trip is available to the public, with no family accompanying him, no shopping or entertainment – the focus is solely on Punjab’s economic upliftment. Accompanied by officials like Industry Minister Sanjeev Arora, this delegation interacts directly with investors, and results are visible, such as the investment by Toppan. The AAP government has provided corruption-free governance, where foreign trips have become a means of development, not personal pleasure. This transparency gives the people of Punjab confidence that their money is being invested appropriately, and the state is now on its way to becoming the most prosperous state in the country. Mann’s initiative symbolizes freedom from the corruption of previous governments.
Today, the people of Punjab are witnessing what a true Chief Minister is like – one who accounts for every penny of public money and uses that money to make Punjab the most prosperous state in the world. Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party have proven that the era of corruption is now history, and Punjab’s golden era has begun, where investment, employment, and prosperity will reach every home. The luxury trips and nepotism of old leaders have been replaced by the politics of development, which will take Punjab to new heights. The public has now understood that a true leader is one who thinks in the best interest of the state, not personal gain. The success of the AAP government is an inspiration for other states where governance can be conducted with honesty. Ultimately, this visit of Bhagwant Mann is a guarantee of a bright future for Punjab.
