Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini asks Bhagwant Mann: where are 25 lakh jobs?

Chandigarh. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday asked the Bhagwant Mann government to release a white paper on jobs. He said AAP had promised work to 25 lakh young people in Punjab but now spoke of only 60,000.

At a BJP rally in Hoshiarpur, Saini said he had recently seen a social media video in which Mann claimed his government had given 60,000 jobs. “The Punjab government must tell the youth what happened to the promise of 25 lakh jobs, and how many people have actually got employment so far,” he said.

Saini also questioned the Punjab Excise Inspector recruitment. He said results came out in both Haryana and Punjab about three months ago. After Haryana’s list was declared, he told a rally in Punhana that 29 local youths had been selected. He then dared anyone in the crowd to say they had sought a recommendation from an MLA, minister or Chief Minister, or paid even five paise.

In Punjab’s case, he alleged that candidates were reportedly selected from two different centres even though the exam was held at both at the same time. “Those who call themselves staunchly honest must answer these questions,” he said.

Mocking AAP leaders for cracking jokes at public meetings, Saini said, “Jokes may keep cinema halls running, but they cannot run a government.” He said running a government takes clear policies, strong political will and accountability, and that Punjab’s people were tired of false promises and wanted change.

He said development in Punjab stalled under Congress, which ruled for more than five years and did little on jobs or drug abuse. AAP then won a huge mandate by calling itself honest, he said, but pushed the state further back and wasted people’s hard-earned money.

With the Assembly elections two months away, he asked voters to question Congress and AAP leaders about their promises: jobs, a drug-free Punjab, MSP purchase of all farm produce and financial help for women.

Saini spoke of the old bond between the two states. He said Haryana’s people were saddened that Punjab, once one of India’s leading states, had fallen behind because of wrong political decisions, despite its people’s hard work for the nation.

He said Haryana’s BJP government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, buys all crops at MSP and gives government jobs without “parchi and kharchi” (recommendation slips or bribes). He urged Punjab to adopt this model and vote in a BJP government.

Haryana Cabinet Minister Ranbir Gangwa, former Union Minister Vijay Sampla and former MP Avinash Rai Khanna were present.