Chandigarh, Aug 3 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday slammed the Congress over its internal discord, saying the party is preoccupied with infighting and has little concern for the interests of Punjab.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Mann said, “Good luck to the Congress for its ongoing fight. They keep fighting for positions and chairs. Earlier too, they had a rate list where the Chief Minister’s post was allegedly worth Rs 500 crore, while other ministerial posts were assigned different amounts.”

Attacking the Congress party, Mann alleged that the party is producing “dealers instead of leaders”.

“They fought among themselves in Sangrur, Barnala, and Mansa, yet they keep claiming that Bhagwant Mann is sending people there. What is the need for that? Bhupesh Baghel was appointed by their own party, but today they are not even accepting him,” Mann said.

Referring to protests against the Congress leadership, he added, “Posters were put up saying ‘Go Back, Baghel’. The Congress is busy with its infighting and does not care about Punjab. We are here to work for Punjab. So, congratulations to the Congress for its fight.”

The Chief Minister also claimed that no paper leak had taken place in Punjab and accused the BJP of attempting to tarnish his government’s image.

“No paper leak has happened in Punjab. The BJP is still unable to recover from what happened earlier. They did not expect Gen Z to protest on such a large scale, and Arvind Kejriwal supported them. Sonam Wangchuk was also there. Now they are targeting the Punjab government and trying to defame us,” he told IANS.

He clarified that the issue involved only instances of digital cheating and that appropriate action had been taken. “There was a minor issue related to cheating. Digital cheating was taking place, and action was taken against those involved,” he told IANS.

When asked about the forthcoming Punjab Assembly elections, Mann responded, “Let’s see who all will lose.”

The factional fault lines within the Punjab Congress widened on Friday after former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi visited the residence of suspended former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur, in a move seen as a direct political message to the party’s state president, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.

Earlier, on August 2, supporters of former Punjab Chief Minister and sitting MP Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday raised slogans in support of him, sending a strong message to the Congress high command on the second consecutive day, at the party meeting in Barnala town where the party’s General Secretary In-Charge, Bhupesh Baghel, was also present.

Besides Baghel, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring was there to meet party workers and office-bearers as part of an outreach exercise aimed at strengthening the party at the grassroots.

–IANS

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