"What has he given to Punjab so far?" Former CM of Punjab takes jibe on PM Modi
May 19, 2024
Jalendhar (Punjab) [India], May 19 : Former Chief Minister of Punjab and Congress candidate for the Jalandhar parliamentary seat, Charanjit Singh Channi, launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, questioning his contributions to Punjab during his decade-long tenure.
"He has been the Prime Minister for 10 years. Everyone comes during elections, and I just want to ask that when he comes to Punjab, he should tell us what he has given to Punjab so far. Many people said that he came and went back; he was supposed to give a lot. Has the ink in his pen run out? Will it be refilled or not? And I also want to ask why he hasn't given anything yet," Speaking at a press conference held in Punjab's Jalandhar," Channi said.
Channi highlighted the unresolved issue of naming the local airport after Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj.
"We have built an airport here and sent a resolution to the central government from the Punjab Assembly, stating that the airport should be named after Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj. But the central government, which is BJP-led and anti-Dalit, did not name the airport. Now their power is gone, and they are asking for votes from the people. When our government comes to power, we will name the airport after Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj."
Channi also criticized the BJP government's economic policies, particularly their impact on local industries.
"Due to the policies of the BJP government at the center, industries in Jalandhar are collapsing. The leather industry is declining, and other industries are also failing because of their policies. Under the INDIA bloc, when our government is formed at the center, we will revive the industries, and we can speak about this with responsibility," Channi said.
Addressing concerns over the misuse of federal agencies, Channi said, "Misuse of agencies like the ED, CBI, and vigilance should not happen. This means that they should not be used to target opponents and coerce them into joining one's party. When our government comes to power, there will be no misuse of these agencies."
In Punjab, voting for its 13 seats will take place in a single phase, with the seventh and final phase on June 1 seeing voting in Ludhiana, Gurudaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nandpur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Firozpur, Bathinda, Sangrur, and Patiala constituencies.
This year, the Lok Sabha polls began on April 19 for 102 seats spread across 21 states.
Following this, Phase 2 was held on April 26; the third phase was held on May 7; and the fourth phase was held on May 13. Phase six of the Lok Sabha polls is slated to be held on May 20 for 49 seats, while Phase 6 is set for May 25, covering 7 states for 57 seats.
