After Bengal, BJP's 'politics of fear, division' at play in Punjab: Mann

Coining the slogan Punjab belongs to Punjabis, he said those trying to disturb communal harmony are enemies of Punjab and alleged that the BJP gained power in Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal through divisive politics, but such conspiracies would never succeed in Punjab because people here celebrate every festival together.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said the BJP is trying to recreate a West Bengal-like ''politics of fear and division'' in Punjab ahead of assembly elections to polarise communities and seize power. Calling upon Punjabis to unite against divisive forces inimical to the peace, amity and communal harmony of the state, he asserted that communal politics would never be allowed to disturb Punjab's centuries-old brotherhood. The chief minister began the third day of his 'Shukrana Yatra' from Bathinda and paid obeisance at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib. He has been leading the state-wide four-day yatra as a sign of ''gratitude'' for the implementation of the anti-sacrilege law. Mann said his heart is indebted to the Almighty for blessing him with the opportunity to serve humanity by enacting the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026, which stipulates harsher punishment for sacrilege. Launching a scathing attack on the BJP, Mann alleged that the same ''politics of fear and division'' it unleashed in West Bengal was now being attempted in Punjab, where communal forces were trying to pit communities against each other to polarise society and capture power. The Punjab assembly polls are due early next year. Coining the slogan 'Punjab belongs to Punjabis', he said those trying to disturb communal harmony are enemies of Punjab and alleged that the BJP gained power in Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal through divisive politics, but such conspiracies would never succeed in Punjab because people here celebrate every festival together. ''Communal parties are conspiring to break Punjab's brotherhood and their sinister agenda must not be allowed to succeed,'' Mann said. He added that these political parties want to divide Punjabis and pit communities against each other for electoral gains. Citing the example of West Bengal, Mann claimed the situation there ''deteriorated drastically'' after BJP came to power and innocent people's houses are being set on fire. ''The moment BJP formed the government in West Bengal, an atmosphere of fear spread everywhere. The same conspiracy is now being hatched for Punjab,'' Mann alleged. ''First they pit two communities against each other, then they stand with one side and intimidate the other to secure votes,'' he alleged. Targeting RSS and BJP over nationalism, Mann alleged that the RSS did not hoist the tricolour at its headquarters for 52 years, yet today they are distributing certificates of patriotism to others. ''Punjabis made countless sacrifices for the nation during the freedom struggle and do not need certificates from self-proclaimed patriots,'' he said. Referring to the Partition, he said Punjab suffered the most during that painful period and nearly one million Punjabis lost their lives, whereas those now questioning Punjab's patriotism had made no such sacrifices for the nation. He said some BJP leaders are demanding sedition charges against him while forgetting that Punjabis have made nearly 90 per cent sacrifices for the nation and are now being labelled ''traitors''. ''Punjabis who made the highest sacrifices for the nation are now being branded anti-national by the BJP,'' Mann alleged. Targeting the opposition, Mann said leaders like Sunil Jakhar need introspection because they cannot tolerate seeing the son of an ordinary family honestly serving Punjab after becoming head of the state. Training guns on Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, Mann described both parties as ''looters that plundered Punjab's wealth for decades'' while ignoring the welfare of common people. ''Opposition parties are asking for another chance to loot Punjab, but people will now send them not to power, only to jail,'' he said. He further said Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal is daydreaming about returning to power, but the wise people of Punjab will never again vote for those who repeatedly betrayed the state. In Mansa and Sardulgarh, Mann asserted that Punjab is witnessing a historic and revolutionary transformation under the present state government as canal water has reached even the tail-end regions of the state for the first time, while uninterrupted daytime power supply is now being ensured for farmers across Punjab. Addressing a gathering during the ongoing 'Shukrana Yatra', Mann said the Punjab government is working with complete honesty, transparency and commitment to safeguard the interests of farmers, protect Punjab's communal harmony and ensure exemplary punishment for those involved in sacrilege incidents. He said that for decades the people of Punjab had suffered due to the ''anti-people'' policies of previous governments, but now a new era of accountability, development and justice has begun in the state. Referring to the anti-sacrilege law, Mann reiterated the commitment of his government to protect the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and he declared that no accused in sacrilege cases would now be able to escape punishment by pretending mental illness or taking refuge behind fabricated excuses. Mann said the newly enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026 clearly stipulates life imprisonment for those found guilty of sacrilege and also provides stringent punishment for the handlers, protectors and conspirators behind such heinous acts.