Ludhiana: The Opposition parties in Punjab skipped the much touted ‘open debate’ to which they were challenged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to discuss issues pertaining to state, with the session turning into a monologue for the Aam Aadmi Party leader who said it would have been “better” had the heads of the political parties come and not “runaway” from presenting their views.
The CM also spoke at length on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal - the issue on which the Opposition had been demanding the debate but which was never listed as agenda or ever found mention in the statements issued by Mann and other AAP leaders ahead of the debate.
Even as Mann had issued a “khulla sadda” (open invitation) to ‘aam aadmi’ of Punjab to attend the session, the entire Ludhiana city was turned into a fortress and police checkpoints were installed at every few meters on Ludhiana-Ferozepur highway to stop protesters, activists and common people from reaching the venue.
The entry of media was also also prohibited inside the venue and only “select guests”, including AAP MLAs and their supporters, who had invites issued by the CMO were allowed inside. Police detained several protesters, including unemployed teachers, farm union activists, health workers among others who tried to enter the venue or raised slogans against the government.
As the ‘Main Punjab Bolda Haan’ which was broadcast live on the official social media and YouTube channel of Punjab government, started, Dr Nirmal Singh Jaura - the moderator appointed by the CM - requested Mann to wait for a few minutes in anticipation that Opposition leaders might join. Jaura also showered heaps of praise on Mann for “inviting opposition leaders and common Punjabis” to hold discussion on issues of Punjab.
Asked by the moderator to explain his concept of “Rangla Punjab”, Mann launched into a monologue saying that people watching the session were “becoming witness to history” on Punjab Day. “It’s a debate between me and those who ruled Punjab till now. I wish they had joined the debate, but they had started making excuses since the day I,” said Mann in his nearly hour-long address.