Chandigarh, May 11 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar on Monday inducted Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s cousin Gyan Singh Mann into the Bharatiya Janata Party here.

Along with him, Barnala-based businessman and NRI Baljinder Singh Barnala, as well as Manjinder Singh Sajan Khera, former personal assistant to Jalalabad MLA Goldy Kamboj and AAP’s Arniwala Johl, also joined the party.

Addressing a joint press conference, CM Saini and Jakhar welcomed the leaders into the BJP and said they had originally joined AAP with hopes for change, but after seeing those dreams shattered, they had now decided to become part of the BJP family.

Condemning the attacks on BJP offices and workers in cities, including Amritsar, Batala, Tarn Taran, and Ludhiana, the state BJP chief warned that “everyone will be held accountable”. He specifically cautioned police and civil officers, reminding them that they are paid from the state treasury and are accountable to the people of Punjab, not to any political party.

He said officials must work according to the law and warned that anyone misusing their position would face action at the appropriate time. Mentioning AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Jakhar said attacks on BJP offices would not stop the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids. He asserted that wherever corruption has taken place, investigations will continue and every corrupt individual will eventually be brought to account.

Jakhar further said AAP would not be allowed to create “Mamata Banerjee-style Bengal-like conditions” in Punjab. He said the BJP would strongly resist what he described as violence and intimidation allegedly being carried out by AAP with the support of the police machinery and added that AAP’s “goondaism” could not silence the voice of the people.

Responding to media questions, the state BJP President said the party “is fully prepared for the upcoming local body elections and that the people of Punjab are also ready to end what he termed AAP’s corrupt rule”.

Jakhar further warned that the government machinery must maintain neutrality during elections, failing which biased officers, along with political leaders, would also be held accountable in due course.

–IANS

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