Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday strongly defended the development agenda of the state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a discussion on the Governor’s Address in the Punjab Legislative Assembly. The minister criticized opposition members, particularly from the Congress party, for staging a walkout from the House, stating that their exit reflected an inability to confront the progress and policy achievements claimed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Addressing the Assembly, Cheema highlighted the state government’s focus on youth empowerment and employment generation. He said that soon after assuming office, the government announced a major recruitment drive with advertisements for 30,000 government jobs. According to him, the administration has so far provided around 63,000 government jobs to young people across Punjab. The minister described this as a significant step toward restoring the confidence of the youth in government institutions and reversing the long-standing trend of brain drain from the state, which he said had been neglected by previous administrations.
The Finance Minister also outlined the government’s initiatives to strengthen skill development and technical education. He stated that the Punjab government has increased the capacity of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) by adding 20,000 new seats to meet the growing demand for skilled workforce training. Cheema pointed out that under earlier governments, nearly 35,000 ITI seats frequently remained vacant, indicating a lack of attention to vocational education and workforce development.
Turning to the issue of drugs, Cheema said that earlier ruling parties had failed to effectively tackle the drug menace in the state. He reminded the House that the term “Chitta,” widely associated with the drug crisis in Punjab, first emerged during the tenure of the Shiromani Akali Dal–BJP alliance government. The minister also referred to former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, stating that despite publicly taking an oath on the holy Gutka Sahib during the 2017 assembly election campaign, the previous administration failed to effectively curb the drug problem.
Highlighting the current government’s actions, Cheema said the AAP administration has launched an aggressive anti-drug campaign titled Yudh Nashean Virudh aimed at eliminating the narcotics trade from the state. According to him, the initiative represents a decisive effort by the government to dismantle drug networks and address the long-standing social issue that has affected many families in Punjab.
The Finance Minister also spoke about social justice measures implemented by the current government. Recalling his tenure as Leader of the Opposition, Cheema said that previous governments had ignored his demand for reservation for Scheduled Castes in the recruitment of government lawyers. He stated that the AAP government has now implemented this reservation policy, which has resulted in the recruitment of 58 lawyers from weaker sections of society, thereby promoting greater representation and inclusivity within the legal system.
On the agricultural front, Cheema highlighted efforts made by the state government to improve irrigation infrastructure. He said that canal water irrigation has been restored to thousands of acres of farmland across Punjab, addressing an issue that had remained neglected for decades. According to him, strengthening irrigation facilities is essential for improving agricultural productivity and supporting farmers across the state.
Concluding his address, the Finance Minister reaffirmed the commitment of the current administration and asserted that the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann remains the only government in Punjab that has fulfilled all the guarantees made to the people during the election campaign. Cheema emphasized that the government will continue focusing on employment generation, social justice, infrastructure development, and welfare initiatives aimed at ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity in the state.
