Chandigarh – Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has taken a sharp dig at Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Navjot Singh Sidhu, questioning their aspirations for top leadership positions without demonstrating tangible contributions to public welfare. Addressing the media, Mann highlighted what he sees as a common trait between the two leaders: a desire for high office before proving their capabilities.

Mann said that both Rahul Gandhi and Navjot Singh Sidhu want to be elected as Prime Minister and Chief Minister respectively before they perform. He stated that the people of the country are also adamant that they want both to perform first.

Mann's comments come amidst a backdrop of heated political activity in Punjab. The Chief Minister's remarks also referenced recent allegations made by Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Navjot Singh Sidhu, regarding the purported price of securing a Chief Ministerial position within the Congress party. She had said that 500 crore rupees was required for anyone to become a Congress Chief Minister, and that Sidhu would return to politics only if he was declared the CM candidate. These claims have ignited a fresh wave of controversy, further intensifying the political climate.

Mann pointed to Navjot Singh Sidhu's tenure as a minister in the previous Congress government, suggesting that Sidhu could have addressed critical issues such as city sanitation, sewerage, and power problems but failed to do so. Mann has also stated that Sidhu did not sign files of his department for six months when he was a minister. He also said that Sidhu could have been a hero if he had undertaken the responsibility of his departments. The Chief Minister's remarks implied that both leaders are more focused on attaining positions of power rather than actively engaging in public service.

Furthermore, Mann touched upon the broader political landscape in Punjab, accusing opposition parties, including the Congress, BJP, and Akali Dal, of colluding to field joint candidates in some areas. He also accused the Akali Dal of using gangsters to threaten voters. This, according to Mann, underscores their apprehension and acknowledgment of defeat in the upcoming Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. Mann has accused the Congress and Akali Dal of high-handedness against the AAP government in the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls, saying they have accepted their defeat in the elections.

In response to Navjot Kaur Sidhu's claims of feeling unsafe and her request for security, Mann responded by saying that leaders should weigh their words carefully if they perceive a threat. He mocked the controversy, saying such remarks had even triggered debates within the Congress about the “price of power".

The Punjab political scene remains dynamic, with accusations and counter-accusations flying between the ruling AAP and opposition parties. As the state gears up for the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, the political rhetoric is likely to intensify further.