CM Mann must engage with protestors to resolve long pending issues, says Bajwa

Chandigarh, February 10: Senior congress leader & Punjab’s leader of the opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday cautioned Bhagwant Mann government not to linger on with the ongoing protests and must find a solution at the earliest. 

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Bajwa said such protests were not only bringing a bad name for the current dispensation but also creating a negative image for the state of Punjab as if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led government was completely inept to resolve long pending issues being raised by various organizations for many months. 

“Under these circumstances the investors would not be too keen to put money in Punjab no matter how many sojourns Bhagwant Mann may undertake to Germany or to Hyderabad to attract investment,” added Bajwa. 

In fact Bhagwant Mann should have engaged with these protestors from the word go the day he was sworn in as the chief minister of Punjab. However he has already wasted nearly a year now in addressing the genuine demands of various protesting groups. 

“I have been saying for a long time that elections come and go and it is a never ending process in various parts of the country. Instead of wasting time in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh or in Municipal Corporation Delhi (MCD) polls Bhagwant should have sat along with the protestors for marathon negotiations to resolve their pending issues for once and for all”, said Bajwa. 

Punjab has already borne the brunt of being the border state. The militancy period had also taken a huge toll on the economy of the state. “Hence it should be the top priority & most appropriate time to attract the industry from across the globe to generate employment and enhance the state’s laggard economy”. 

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Bajwa said Zira distillery row and the following protests by the local residents for nearly six months was a perfect example of Bhagwant Mann government’s indecisiveness & how to further compound its own problems.