Punjab: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal virtually inaugurated 109 Aam Aadmi Clinics on Saturday, bringing the total number to 990. CM Mann announced that approximately 400 more Mohalla Clinics would soon be built. He also laid the foundation stone for the concrete lining of the 55-km-long Bhakra Distributor L1, which will be constructed at a cost of ₹41.22 crore. Addressing a gathering in Sirhind, CM Mann contrasted the AAP’s development-oriented politics with the family-centric approach of its opponents. He questioned the track record of those who promised to eradicate drugs and, citing incidents like Behbal Kalan and Bargari, accused previous governments of failing to deliver justice. He appealed to the people not to vote for Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal, saying that this would be a true tribute to Parkash Singh Badal, who did not make his son Chief Minister. He said that senior Congress leaders had failed to demonstrate clear leadership in Punjab, saying they had “more chief ministerial candidates than workers.” Emphasizing welfare measures, CM Mann said that within three months, approximately 3.05 million people had been registered under the “Chief Minister’s Health Scheme,” which provides free treatment up to ₹10 lakh. He also announced a plan to replace overhead power lines in farms with underground wiring to reduce transmission losses and fire risks. CM Mann said that the government is preparing a law to prevent sacrilege, proposing a minimum punishment of 10 years, and the draft will be presented in the upcoming assembly session.
Kejriwal said that the opposition had failed to build a strong public healthcare system in the last 75 years, while the AAP had ensured free treatment through Mohalla Clinics in a very short time. He said that the party had earned “blessings, not money” and alleged that the cases against its leaders were politically motivated. He said that if opposition parties come to power in 2027, they will end free electricity and healthcare schemes and appealed to the people to give AAP a firm mandate. Meanwhile, Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna of the SAD and Kuljit Nagra of the Congress accused the AAP of misusing government resources for its rally. They alleged that roadways buses were used to transport people to the rally site, causing inconvenience to commuters.
CM Mann and Kejriwal virtually inaugurated 109 Mohalla Clinics
