Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asked newly appointed ministers in Punjab to be ready to protest or be removed in clear terms. Kejriwal said the MLAs who are unhappy over not being made ministers need to leave behind personal ambitions for the progress of the state. Kejriwal said that he would guide them like an elder brother, while all the MLAs would have to work sincerely as a strong team under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Kejriwal also appreciated Mann for the decisions taken after assuming the post of Chief Minister.
He said, ‘Man sahib will give target to every minister in relation to work. They have to work round the clock. In his first address to party MLAs through video conference after the formation of the new government in Punjab, the AAP chief said, “If your (ministers) goals are not met, then the public will say change this minister, bring another minister… .Work has to be done and whatever target Mann sahib gives, it has to be fulfilled. Kejriwal also advised the MLAs not to use abusive or objectionable language against anyone, including officials. The Delhi Chief Minister said he will have to win over the hearts of the people of Punjab with his performance and warned party leaders that “stern action” will be taken against them if they do any wrong.
Kejriwal said, ‘I can tolerate everything, but not dishonesty and theft of public money. If I or Man sahib comes to know that someone has done wrong then no chance will be given. “People have shown faith in us and we cannot break their trust,” he said. Pointing to the defeat of strong leaders of rival parties in the election, Kejriwal said, “Don’t be arrogant. You didn’t beat them. It is the people who have defeated them.’ Kejriwal said, ‘Don’t think that I have now become an MLA and will become a minister and then chief minister. These things should not come in your mind.
The AAP convener lauded the Punjab Chief Minister for the announcement of filling up of 25,000 vacancies in various government departments and decisions related to withdrawal of security of former ministers and former MLAs. He claimed that while the AAP government is doing a great job in Punjab, leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won elections in four states, are still fighting for ministerial posts. “Tussi kamal kar ditta… We are really proud of you, Man sahib in the last three days,” Kejriwal said.
On Mann’s announcement of launching an anti-corruption helpline number, Kejriwal said, “I will call it the Anti-Corruption Action Line.” Urging all AAP MLAs of Punjab to work with dedication, he said that “people have reposed their faith and now it is our responsibility to work, give results”. Kejriwal reminded the MLAs that during the election campaign he had said that his party would give an honest government.
The AAP chief praised Mann for asking his MLAs not to sit in Chandigarh and stay among the people, listening to their problems and solving them. Kejriwal said he had heard that some MLAs who did not become ministers were unhappy. “We got 92 seats and only 17 were able to become ministers. It is not that the MLAs who did not become ministers are less than anyone. All our MLAs are gems.
“We all have to work as a team and leave behind our individual ambitions and interests, then Punjab will progress and move ahead,” Kejriwal said. But if these personal ambitions, greed come in the way, Punjab will be defeated. For the progress of Punjab, it is necessary that all the MLAs work as a strong team under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann. Kejriwal asked the MLAs not to meet the chief minister or ministers for posting of officers. “If you want to work for the people, you should meet the chief minister and ministers,” he said.