Chandigarh, November 3
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday handed over appointment letters to 801 newly recruited candidates at a function in Mohali, giving them a special Diwali gift in the form of government jobs. With these appointments, the total number of government jobs provided by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has reached 71,777.
Emphasising that all recruitments had been made purely on merit and without any bribery or political recommendations, the Chief Minister said that government jobs were allegedly sold for lakhs of rupees during previous regimes through money, influence and recommendations. He asserted that his government had ensured a transparent recruitment process without taking even a single rupee in bribes.
Challenging opposition leaders to produce even one example of corruption in the recruitment process, CM Mann announced that another 600 young people would receive government jobs next week.
Sharing photographs of the event on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said that 801 newly recruited candidates had received appointment letters in Mohali. He added that more than 71,777 youngsters had so far secured government employment purely on merit and without any payment. He also highlighted Punjab’s achievements in education, stating that the state had secured the top position in the country in primary education.
“Our aim is to bring employment and prosperity to every household and transform Punjab into Rangla Punjab once again. Heartiest congratulations to the newly appointed candidates and their families. Serve the people of Punjab with complete honesty and dedication,” he said.
Addressing the gathering after distributing the appointment letters, CM Mann alleged that opposition parties were making baseless accusations against him in the absence of substantive political issues. He challenged opposition leaders to prove even a single allegation of corruption against him or quit politics.
He said the opposition was frustrated because it could not tolerate the development and public welfare initiatives being undertaken by the state government.
Targeting the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress, the Chief Minister accused both parties of pushing Punjab towards economic and social decline through politics driven by personal interests.
He alleged that leaders of these parties were now working together to malign him because they could not accept that an ordinary person, without a political family background or inherited power, was working for the common people of Punjab.
“Our response to their allegations will always be our work, our achievements and the smiles on the faces of ordinary families,” he said.
CM Mann further accused the previous Akali leadership of taking control of profitable businesses, including mining, and using the state’s resources for personal benefit. He said those who had allegedly exploited Punjab for years were now preaching honesty.
He added that the people of Punjab had not forgotten how previous leaders betrayed their trust and compromised the future of coming generations for their personal interests.
Taking a dig at the Akali Dal, the Chief Minister said that the party’s leaders once claimed they would rule Punjab for 25 years, but today they were struggling to find even 25 credible leaders within their own ranks.
Describing the occasion as historic and emotional for 801 families, CM Mann said the appointments reflected the hard work and dedication of young candidates who had earned the opportunity to serve in government departments.
He said the total number of government jobs provided under his administration had now reached 71,777 and reiterated that every appointment had been made without discrimination, political influence or recommendations.
“These appointment letters are not merely pieces of paper. They represent hope, dignity and a secure future for thousands of families,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that every appointment represented the dreams of a young person and the aspirations of an entire family. He said his government had ensured that merit, rather than money or political connections, would determine the future of Punjab’s youth.
Responding to allegations that his government was misusing public funds, CM Mann said every government initiative was aimed at public welfare.
“The state treasury belongs to the people of Punjab, and every single rupee is being spent for their welfare. Unlike previous governments, which treated the public treasury as their personal property, we consider ourselves trustees of the people’s money,” he said.
The Chief Minister also announced that around 600 additional recruitment opportunities had already been created for assistant-level posts in the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), further expanding employment opportunities for young people.
Encouraging the newly appointed employees to aim higher, CM Mann urged them to prepare for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations and aspire to become IAS and IPS officers.
He said the government was strengthening the education system and establishing quality institutions to enable children from ordinary and economically weaker families to reach senior positions in the country’s administrative system.
The Chief Minister criticised the previous Akali leadership for focusing on subsidies in animal husbandry, saying that while there was nothing wrong with promoting the sector, the aspirations of Punjab’s youth should not be restricted to a narrow range of opportunities.
He said the state’s young people deserved opportunities to become administrators, scientists, doctors, engineers and leaders.
Highlighting the government’s achievements in education, CM Mann claimed that Punjab had emerged as the number one state in school education, surpassing Kerala.
He attributed this progress to the government’s commitment to providing quality education and equal opportunities to every child, irrespective of social or economic background.
The Chief Minister also highlighted major improvements in Punjab’s irrigation infrastructure, stating that the government had undertaken extensive efforts to ensure canal water reached agricultural fields that had remained deprived of this facility for decades.
According to CM Mann, the strengthened canal network was now delivering nearly 18,000 cusecs of water to agricultural fields, equivalent to the capacity of the entire Bhakra Canal.
He said the initiative had significantly reduced dependence on groundwater and helped improve groundwater levels by one to five metres in several areas.
“Our government is committed to conserving Punjab’s precious water resources while ensuring that farmers receive adequate water for irrigation,” he said.
CM Mann added that farmers had been forced to depend on groundwater for decades, but his government was restoring the canal irrigation system and ensuring that water reached even the tail-end areas.
He described the initiative as more than an irrigation reform, calling it an investment in Punjab’s future and the well-being of coming generations.
The Chief Minister said the people of Punjab had witnessed the consequences of poor governance under successive governments and would never allow the state to return to those difficult days.
He maintained that Punjab was witnessing a new phase of people-oriented governance, public trust and development. The government, he said, was simultaneously strengthening education, healthcare, agriculture, sports, infrastructure and employment opportunities to put the state firmly on the path of progress.
Referring to the ongoing Hockey Asian Champions Trophy, CM Mann said the government was working to revive Punjab’s sporting legacy by developing world-class sports infrastructure and providing opportunities to emerging talent.
He said sports were also being promoted as an effective means of channelising the energy of young people and keeping them away from drugs and other social evils.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment, the Chief Minister said it would continue working beyond political affiliations to generate employment, improve public services and build a prosperous future for every section of society.
“The people of Punjab have entrusted us with the responsibility of serving them, and we are fulfilling this responsibility with honesty and dedication,” he said.
