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Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday accused opposition parties of wanting to shut down Aam Aadmi Clinics and welfare schemes, including health insurance, financial assistance for women and free bus travel, if they return to power. Mann was speaking at a public gathering in Harkhowal village in Hoshiarpur district on Wednesday, where he inaugurated 154 Aam Aadmi Clinics, taking the total number of facilities in Punjab to 1,245.
He said the clinics had recorded more than 6.48 crore outpatient department (OPD) visits, with patients receiving free medicines and diagnostic tests. The chief minister said his government’s priorities were healthcare, education and employment, while accusing previous governments of focusing on their own interests.
“Healthcare is a basic right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford expensive private hospitals,” Mann said adding that the clinics had made primary healthcare more accessible to poor and middle-class families.Mann said 54.20 lakh families were covered under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, which provides cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh per family. Nearly eight lakh beneficiaries have received treatment under the scheme, he added.
He also said the government had provided 70,685 government jobs on merit and that 5,500 young people had been recruited to the Health Department.
The chief minister announced a UPSC coaching centre in Hoshiarpur to help young people prepare for civil services examinations. He said the initiative would reduce the cost of coaching and allow students to prepare closer to home. He also said construction had begun on a medical college named after Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj in Hoshiarpur. The government would also work to upgrade Guru Ravidass Ayurveda University, he added.
Mann criticised the Shiromani Akali Dal over its earlier claim that it would govern Punjab for 25 years, saying the party was now struggling to maintain its political relevance.He also accused Congress leaders of failing to present a united front on issues concerning the state and alleged that opposition parties were joining hands against his government because they lacked a credible agenda.
The chief minister said previous Akali governments had failed to protect young people from drugs and referred to sacrilege incidents as a factor that had damaged the party’s credibility. These remarks were part of his political criticism of the opposition.Mann said canal irrigation coverage had increased from about 22 percent to more than 80 percent under his government, while around 14,000km of pipelines had been laid to improve water access for farmers. These figures were not independently verified.
He also highlighted the government’s road safety initiative, the Sadak Surakhya Force, and welfare measures including the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna and Meri Rasoi Scheme.The chief minister announced a community centre for Harkhowal, saying it would provide a venue for social and cultural events, particularly for economically weaker families.
Mann said his government would continue to focus on public services and development despite opposition criticism. He appealed to people to remain alert to what he described as attempts to mislead them. Cabinet Minister Dr Balbir Singh, Lok Sabha MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal and MLA Ishaan Chabbewal were among those present at the event.
The North News
