Karandeep- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday criticised the leadership of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and announced the Aam Aadmi Party’s candidate for the Majitha constituency, while laying the foundation stone for 23 rural link roads valued at ₹11.32 crore.
Addressing a public gathering in Majitha, the Chief Minister referred to statements made by SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, saying he would have welcomed it had the SGPC chief identified himself primarily with Sikh religious ideals rather than political affiliations. Mann alleged that the SGPC leadership was closely aligned with Sukhbir Singh Badal, a claim he said raised concerns about the independence of religious institutions.
During the event, Mann announced that Talbir Singh Gill will contest the Majitha seat on behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. He said the party aimed to focus on development and governance, while opposing what he described as a return to past practices of intimidation and unrest.
Referring to earlier political periods, the Chief Minister said residents of the area had previously lived under fear due to alleged misuse of authority and false cases. He stated that such conditions no longer prevail and attributed the change to what he described as public rejection of intimidation-based politics.
Mann also warned against the return of the Shiromani Akali Dal to power, alleging that previous Akali governments were linked to incidents of sacrilege and violence. He said the state government had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the issue of missing saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, clarifying that the move was aimed at accountability rather than interference in religious affairs.
The Chief Minister reiterated the importance of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, stating that religious institutions should remain above political influence. He cited his personal decision to prioritise appearing before the Takht over attending a formal state function as an example of respect for Sikh religious authority.
Highlighting development initiatives, Mann said 23 rural link roads in the Majitha constituency were being constructed after a gap of nearly two decades. According to the government, ₹9.94 crore will be spent on construction and ₹1.38 crore allocated for maintenance over five years. He said the project would improve connectivity for farmers and residents in the region.
The Chief Minister said the Punjab government has launched a statewide programme to upgrade approximately 43,000 kilometres of link roads. He added that quality checks, including AI-based surveys and a CM Flying Squad, had been introduced to reduce irregularities, claiming savings of ₹226.89 crore.
Mann also highlighted other initiatives of his government, including free electricity for a majority of households, improved power supply for farmers, Aam Aadmi Clinics, and Schools of Eminence. He said the government was also focusing on border-area farmers and had raised concerns with the Union government regarding access to agricultural land near the international border.