Barnala saw no development for 35 years, development started after the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power in 2022: Arvind Kejriwal

Chandigarh, November 16, 2024: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann campaigned for the AAP candidate in Barnala on Saturday. Both leaders addressed a large public rally here and appealed to people to elect Harinder Dhaliwal.

While addressing the people, AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said, "Two and a half years ago, the people of Punjab were troubled by their huge electricity bills. We promised that we would waive all your old bills and ensure that your future bills would be zero. We have fulfilled that promise. Now people's electricity bills are coming zero."

"We also promised that we would provide free medical treatment. Today, across Punjab, Aam Aadmi Clinics are opening, where medicines and tests are free. At the same time, all government hospitals are being improved and treatment is free there as well. We are also improving government schools."

"In the past two and a half years, about 48,000 young people have received government jobs. In every village of Punjab, around 4 to 5 youngsters have gotten jobs. No one had to pay a single penny, nor did anyone need any recommendations. In the previous governments, it was impossible to get a government job without recommendation or bribery."

"We have regularized many temporary employees and the process is ongoing for the rest. Now government employees are not found on water tanks; they are found at their workplaces."

Kejriwal said, "Barnala is the capital of the Aam Aadmi Party. In all the elections since the formation of the party, the people of Barnala have always elected AAP. With your blessings, Bhagwant Mann reached Parliament twice. This time, you elected Meet Hayer. In both the 2017 and 2022 assembly elections, you elected the AAP candidate. This time, please elect our candidate Harinder Dhaliwal. He is your own person, he comes from among you, and he will always be available for you whenever needed."

He added, "When your Member of Parliament, your MLA, and the state government all belong to the same party, Barnala's development will accelerate. But if an MLA from any other party wins, he will only fight with us, and no work will be done because the state government belongs to the Aam Aadmi Party. Our MLA will focus only on working."

He continued, "Before 2022, Barnala did not see proper development for 35 years because the government in Punjab belonged to another party, and Barnala had an MLA from another party. They kept fighting with each other. But when the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power in 2022, and Barnala also got an AAP MLA, Meet Hayer, development began. Before, farmers here did not get canal water. Our government started supplying water from the Harigarh canal to the farmers here, and now water is reaching every field." After the reclining of the Barnala water distributory with concrete, 20% of the water will be saved, which will be given to the farmers in the villages.

"In addition, during our government's two and a half years, we have built community centers, libraries, ponds (Chappar), dharmshalas, schools, stadiums, and playgrounds. We are also repairing streets and drains. Work on a large stadium is underway in Sanghera and will be ready soon."

"We have approved projects worth 87 crore rupees for drinking water and sewage. From now on, there will be no shortage. 25 crore rupees have been allocated for repairing all damaged roads, and the beautification of major squares in the city is also in progress. Preparations are underway to make Barnala Ring Road a four-lane. The work will begin soon."

"Moreover, the Civil Hospital is being improved, and all its shortcomings are being addressed. A trauma center will also be established there. Furthermore, the government will identify land in Barnala to create an industrial focal point, which will create thousands of jobs. But these projects can only be completed when the MLA belongs to the Aam Aadmi Party."

The people of Barnala have always given me love, I have a close connection with this place - Bhagwant Mann

While addressing the people, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, "Arvind Kejriwal has changed the direction of politics in the country. He and his wife were both Income Tax Commissioners. But they left their jobs for the country. We used to clean our homes with a broom, but now we are using that broom to clean the entire country."

"Mann said, 'Our broom has already swept through many states. We have governments in Punjab and Delhi. Our MLAs have won in Gujarat, Goa, and Jammu. In Chandigarh and Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, our Mayor has been elected. In just ten years, the Aam Aadmi Party has become a national party.'"

Mann added, "The people of Barnala have always given me love and blessings. I have a close connection with them. This was part of my parliamentary constituency. The people here helped me lead in both the 2014 and 2019 elections."

Attacking opposition candidates, Mann said, "Don’t trust these people. They change parties faster than the weather changes. Kewal Dhillon lost from Congress, and now he is contesting under the BJP's flag. There’s no telling when he will switch sides again. They want to win elections with money, but they have money, and we have the love of the people. They are under the wrong impression that they will win because of money."

He further stated, "After AAP's arrival, even BJP and Congress have started talking about work. Because of us, they had to change their manifesto. Earlier, they never contested elections on issues like schools, hospitals, electricity, water, and employment. 

Mann added, "Just this morning, I arrived from Chandigarh after handing over appointment letters to about 1,700 Punjab Police constables and sub-inspectors. We have already given over 48,000 government jobs."

He added, "We still have two and a half years of our government, and many more good things will happen. For Barnala's development, please vote for the Aam Aadmi Party. Our button is the first one, and AAP candidate should come first. Do not look at any other party. They will stop the work. Dhaliwal is your own; he is from the village. The others live in Panchkula and Chandigarh. After the elections, you will have to search for them, but you won’t find them. So don't vote for them."

Mann also attacked Captain Amarinder Singh, saying, "People made him Chief Minister, but he closed the doors of his house in Chandigarh, and then in 2022, the people shut his doors from the outside. He never met the common people, which is why he lost his political relevance in Punjab."