Unfortunate that CM Mann did not raise Punjab’s issues even after meeting the President: Sukhjinder Randhawa

Chandigarh, May 5, 2026: Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, today strongly criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for not raising any Punjab-related issues during his meeting with President Droupadi Murmu. Expressing his anger, he warned that Mann is no longer a stage artist or the CEO of an event company, but the Chief Minister of Punjab. He should focus on running the government rather than creating events.
Randhawa said it is unfortunate that CM Mann did not raise even a single issue concerning Punjab during his meeting with the President. He also pointed out that during his four-and-a-half-year tenure, the Chief Minister had never sought time to meet the President regarding Punjab’s issues. Instead of addressing state concerns, he alleged, Mann is now worried about saving his falling government. This, he said, has exposed the true face of the Mann government before the people of Punjab, showing that the Chief Minister is more concerned about his position than the state’s issues.
He further alleged that crores of rupees from the Punjab treasury were wasted on this event. Although the President had given time only to the Chief Minister, Mann reportedly arrived with a team of MLAs and journalists. Randhawa claimed that Mann intended to parade his MLAs before the President. He also alleged that the Chief Minister is more worried about Rajya Sabha members leaving the Aam Aadmi Party and the stability of his government.
The former Deputy Chief Minister added that Punjab is currently facing several serious issues, including SYL, Chandigarh, drugs, gangsters, deteriorating law and order, cross-border drone deliveries of drugs and weapons, BBMB, and mounting debt. These issues should have been raised before the President to seek solutions. Instead, he said, the Chief Minister has disappointed the people of Punjab, reflecting the double standards of the AAP government.
Randhawa also said that the Punjab government has failed to fulfill its promise of paying due dearness allowance to government employees and pensioners. He noted that during a recent hearing, the High Court refused to grant a stay, marking a major victory for employees and pensioners. He urged the government, which claims that the state treasury is full, to immediately release all pending dues. Employees must receive their rightful payments without delay, he said, adding that the government cannot evade this responsibility.