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Kejriwal and Mann lead AAP victory procession, promise ‘fiercely honest govt’
On March 16, Mann will be sworn in as the new chief minister at the oath-taking ceremony at Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr
AMRITSAR: Punjab is going to get an honest chief minister after a long time, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday, adding his party will ensure a clean and transparent government.
“I am happy that after many years, Punjab is going to get an honest chief minister. My younger brother Bhagwant (Mann) is fiercely honest. An honest government will be formed,” Kejriwal said, referring to the CM-designate Mann.
The Delhi chief minister along with Mann led a roadshow here to thank people for the AAP’s landslide victory in the February 20 assembly elections. “Tussi kamaal kar dita (you have done wonders)... I love you Punjab,” he said.
If a minister or legislator of AAP is found to be indulging in any kind of wrongdoing, they will be put behind bars. “There will be a fiercely honest government,” Kejriwal said.
On March 16, Mann will be sworn in as the new chief minister at the oath-taking ceremony at Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr, Kejriwal said. “Not only Bhagwant Mann, but every single person of Punjab will be the chief minister. Now, there will be development in Punjab. We will make it ‘rangla’ Punjab and prosperous Punjab,” he added.
Addressing the gathering, Mann said the voters ensured that those who “looted” Punjab for 70 years were defeated in the polls with big margins. “The kind of record you have made with 92 seats, it has never happened in the history of Punjab,” he said, recalling that the AAP was born out of a movement at the Ram Lila ground in Delhi.
“We will start working from day one,” Mann said as he gave a clarion call to the people to join the swearing-in ceremony at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
The AAP won 92 of the 117 assembly seats in Punjab.
On the withdrawal of security of 122 former ministers and legislators, Mann said 403 police personnel and 27 police vehicles are now back at police stations. “These police personnel will work professionally in the police stations to discharge duties related to law & order only.”
The roadshow started from Kachheri Chowk. AAP supporters showered flower petals on both Kejriwal and Mann who stood atop an open vehicle. Newly elected MLAs of the party were also part of the roadshow.
Earlier in the day, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) felicitated both Mann and Kejriwal on the premises of Golden Temple. Gurinder Singh, Golden Temple chief manager, presented them ‘siropa’ (robe of honour), a set of books on Sikhism and a replica of the shrine, in the information office of the gurdwara.
They also paid obeisance at Ram Tirath Temple and Durgiana Temple, besides paying tribute to martyrs at Jallianwala Bagh national memorial.
