No one has been able to accuse me of even Rs. 1 in corruption in four years. CM Bhagwant Mann

April 13, 2026

 

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today made several major announcements here at the ‘Dainik Savera Conclave: Punjab Vision 2026’. He stated that the Aam Aadmi Party is secular and will not allow the religious sentiments of any community to be trifled with; furthermore, if it is found that those committing acts of sacrilege suffer from mental instability, their guardians will also be held accountable under the newly proposed legislation.

He also announced that the party would deny tickets to those MLAs whose performance has been unsatisfactory. Presenting a detailed account of the achievements accomplished during his government’s four-year tenure, the Chief Minister remarked that while, on one hand, Congress leaders themselves have admitted that a bid of ₹500 crore is required to become Chief Minister within their party, he, on the other hand despite having been in power for four years has not faced a single allegation of corruption, not even for a single rupee.

The conclave, held in the presence of Dainik Savera Group Editor Shital Vij and Joint Editor Abhishek Vij, was also attended by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, several cabinet ministers, and other dignitaries.

 

 

Presented below, as part of a series of interviews, is a Q&A session featuring Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, conducted by Dainik Savera TV’s Pamil Bhatia, Rimanshu Gaba, Neel Balwinder, and Arshdeep Kaur:

The Aam Aadmi Party government has completed four years in Punjab; what have been its key achievements?

In Punjab, the traditional political parties had established a rotational system for holding power. The state was plagued by various social evils, including drug abuse and corruption. During these challenging times, my government took several historic decisions. This initiative began with the provision of 600 units of free electricity.

Subsequently, over these four years, 65,224 government jobs have been provided. The state’s infrastructure has been improved, and construction work is currently underway on 40,000 kilometers of roads.

Previously, only 26 percent of canal water was utilized for irrigation; however, that figure has now risen to 78 percent. Old canals and water outlets were reopened, and 11,000 cusecs of water were delivered to farmers’ fields, amounting to a volume of water equivalent to an additional Bhakra Canal.

Similarly, a Road Safety Force was constituted. Previously, 5,000 people in Punjab would lose their lives annually in road accidents due to the lack of immediate assistance during the ‘Golden Hour’; now, according to Central Government statistics, fatalities have declined by 48 percent. Furthermore, investment within the state has also increased, with numerous major domestic and international companies establishing industries in Punjab.

 

The government is now introducing legislation regarding this matter; while the opposition is finding fault with it, the SGPC is demanding a copy of the draft. Was everyone’s counsel sought?

In this special session, the Punjab government is introducing the ‘Jagatjit Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026’—strictly in accordance with the Constitution. Under this bill, stringent measures are being implemented to ensure the security of the Guru Granth Sahib following its printing.

Typically, in most cases involving sacrilege, the defense often centers on the argument that the accused suffers from mental instability; however, under this new law, the guardians of the accused will also be held accountable. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) ought to welcome this initiative. Yet, for several years now, the Committee has consistently sided with a single political party.

 

The AAP government has initiated a scheme to provide women with ₹1,000–₹1,500 per month, whereas the BJP is promising to give ₹3,000 to women in Punjab. How do you view this? Won’t the distribution of such “freebies” place an undue burden on the state exchequer?

We gave a guarantee to the women regarding this initiative, and we have fulfilled it. The people of Punjab see through the BJP’s rhetoric; if they are truly intent on providing such benefits, they should start by implementing them in Delhi first. They previously promised to deposit ₹15 lakh into every bank account and spoke of creating 20 million jobs; these are nothing but empty slogans—mere jumlas—from the BJP.

The Akali Dal has been holding rallies continuously in every constituency; their leaders claim that their popularity graph is on the rise

They are living in a fool’s paradise—let them say whatever they wish. We, too, are holding public meetings; however, unlike ours, their rallies do not attract a diverse crowd—rather, the very same set of people seems to be circulating through all of their events. To drum up a crowd, the Akali Dal resorts to rounding up laborers from brick kilns.

There is a rumor circulating among Congress members that Bhagwant Mann has compiled dossiers on certain individuals. Do you, in fact, possess files containing information on them?

They are in a sorry state. When it comes to speaking out on matters concerning the Chief Minister, they push one another to the forefront; yet, when the discussion turns to who will actually become the Chief Minister, they tell their own colleagues, “You step back! You step back!” It is even rumored within their ranks that the Chief Minister’s chair can be bought for ₹500 crore. Congress members routinely speak out against me during their rallies; however, when Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia was arrested, they suddenly felt aggrieved and united in unison to claim that it constituted a violation of human rights.

What do you do to keep yourself fit? What is your daily routine like?

I eat simple food, and to keep my body fit, I play basketball. Among my security detail, there are several Punjab Police personnel who have been national-level players; I play with them—though, at that time, they are not acting as security guards, nor am I acting as the Chief Minister. Whenever I fall ill, Majithia issues a “health bulletin.” Sukhbir Badal is often seen with a plaster cast—sometimes on one arm, sometimes on the other, or on his leg—yet why doesn’t he issue a bulletin for his condition? By 7:00 AM, I have already signed my first file of the day.

The opposition often raises questions regarding your security, alleging that it is excessive, far heavier than any Chief Minister has ever had in the past.

My security is exactly as extensive as it needs to be, and it is strictly in accordance with established protocols. The opposition ought to base their arguments on logic and reason. I have no desire to become a financial burden on the state exchequer.

The opposition has turned the issue of security into nothing more than a status symbol. They quibble over trivialities—saying, “Three cars drive ahead of him,” whereas “only three drive ahead of me.” Such is their state; they completely lack any vision. They even go so far as to make comments about my children; these people consistently engage in petty, frivolous talk.

If you are given the opportunity in the upcoming Assembly elections, what specific initiatives or projects would you prioritize?

If given the opportunity, I will ensure that all necessary and essential tasks are carried out. I want to resolve the problem of stray animals; however, whenever suggestions are proposed or work is initiated in this regard, the NGT (National Green Tribunal) often intervenes and creates hurdles. Amritsar attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees and tourists. We are currently in talks with the Central Government regarding a cable car project that would run directly from the airport to the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and onward to the Wagah Border. Furthermore, electricity cables should be laid underground. Currently, utility poles are erected right over people’s homes and amidst farmers’ fields. Crops are frequently destroyed by fires caused by these lines; if the cables were placed underground, this problem would be permanently resolved.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has been active in Punjab, visiting the state to hold public rallies. What is your take on this?

On what grounds will they compete? Punjab’s infrastructure is superior to theirs. We are providing a free health insurance scheme worth ₹10 lakh. Their schools are shutting down. In quality surveys, Punjab has ranked first in the country, whereas Haryana stands at the ninth position. We provide free electricity. We have tripled the sports budget. The Asian Hockey Championship is set to take place in Punjab. I, too, will soon begin my tour of Haryana. While there, we will demand to know why a promising 17-year-old athlete lost his life on the court after a basketball pole collapsed. Why is the government not being held accountable for this?

Deaths due to drug abuse are occurring in Punjab, and gangsters remain fully active. Do you consider these to be major challenges?

These are indeed the challenges confronting us; it is a nexus. Punjab is a border state; here, the BSF and the Punjab Police are working jointly to secure the frontier. Drugs are smuggled in from Pakistan via drones. Some gangsters are operating from abroad, orchestrating criminal activities through their henchmen.

A recent incident occurred in Chandigarh, which the Punjab Police successfully resolved by arresting the accused. However, the situation has reached such a point that if any incident now occurs in Chandigarh, Bhagwant Mann is held responsible. For instance, I visited Bathinda recently, and the very next day, a hailstorm struck there. Akali MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal claimed that the hailstorm occurred because Bhagwant Mann had visited tell me, am I now to be held responsible for the weather as well? As far as the issue of drugs is concerned, 3,000 kg of heroin was seized at Gujarat’s Mundra Port. Yet, no FIR was registered against anyone.

The Gujarat Police even claimed that 2,331 kg of those drugs were eaten by rats! Now, regarding the matter of gangsters, the BJP has incarcerated gangsters within its own jails. Why, for instance, is Lawrence Bishnoi being held in Sabarmati Jail? They tell us, “If you wish to interrogate him, come here to do so”—how is that even practically possible?

Has the name of any politician—someone with alleged links to gangsters—surfaced so far during the ongoing crackdown against organized crime?

That fact has already been exposed. Vicky Middukhera was associated with the Akali Dal through its student wing, the SOI; similarly, Lawrence Bishnoi is an alumnus of a college in Chandigarh. The era of those who rose to power by riding on the backs of musclemen and strongmen is over.

Nowadays, Sukhbir Badal is going so far as to distribute election tickets to the family members of gangsters—this is a matter of public record. In connection with drug-related cases, the names of certain political figures have indeed surfaced, and investigations into these matters are currently underway.

What will be the criteria for ticket distribution within the Aam Aadmi Party for the upcoming Assembly elections? Furthermore, how many sitting MLAs are likely to be denied tickets?

We conduct internal surveys; we seek feedback directly from the people. Here, we prioritize honest individuals—those who live and engage directly with the people. Opportunities are open to everyone, regardless of their profession—be they lawyers, teachers, or professors. As for the matter of ticket denial, if someone fails to work or lacks performance, their ticket will inevitably be revoked. Unlike other parties, where senior leaders often have their own specific quotas in the ticket distribution process, nothing of the sort exists here.

 

Your wife, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, attends various religious and social events and is an eloquent speaker; could she potentially enter the fray in the upcoming Assembly elections?

Yes, she speaks very well, but that is not a result of my coaching. No one can speak effectively without applying their own independent thought. She attends the social events that I am unable to make it to, and in doing so, she provides me with valuable assistance.

She serves as our advisor on several matters. However, no decision has yet been taken regarding her contesting an election; our child is still quite young

A central government team is arriving to assess the damage caused to crops by recent rains and hailstorms. The State has outstanding dues across various heads; what is the current status regarding the RDF (Rural Development Fund)?

We have just concluded a meeting with the Union Minister for Food and Supplies. Arrangements have been made for 280 special trains to transport grain out of Punjab’s covered storage warehouses. As far as the RDF is concerned, this issue was originally created by the previous Congress government.

We amended the relevant rules in accordance with the Centre’s directives, yet the Centre is still withholding the funds. We even proposed that they release the amount in installments, but they refused.

On another front, the Centre has recently taken a significant decision regarding agricultural activities conducted beyond the barbed-wire fencing in the border districts; they are set to conduct a survey in this regard. This initiative will ultimately benefit the farmers.

Some new parties have emerged ahead of the elections; apart from Navjot Kaur, several other leaders are forming new political outfits—how do you view this?

In a democracy, everyone has the right to contest elections.

Is there a controversy surrounding the application of the NSA against MP Amritpal Singh, who is currently detained in Dibrugarh Jail? Could his detention under the NSA be extended?

The law takes its own course; I hold no personal animosity toward anyone

What exactly did Raghav Chadha do that prompted the party to take such a major decision against him?

In politics, many people lack patience. We, however, are loyal soldiers. What will the political landscape of the Punjab Legislative Assembly look like in 2027? The people are the ultimate masters; they will decide.