The debate will be held at the auditorium in Punjab Agricultural University on 1 November, where the main political parties of Punjab will present their side.
Published Oct 26, 2023 | 11:38 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 26, 2023 | 11:38 PM
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. (Supplied)
While opposition parties like the Congress, the BJP, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are yet to confirm their presence, the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government is all set for the 1 November “Main Punjab Bolda Haan” debate in Ludhiana.
Mann said that this debate would get the preceding ruling parties to answer for their “misdeeds”.
The debate will be held at the auditorium in Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, on 1 November at 12 noon, where the main political parties of Punjab that have been in power will present their side and each party will get 30 minutes, Mann explained.
Mann had earlier dared Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal for an open debate on issues concerning the state.
ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ ਵਿਖੇ 1 ਨਵੰਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਡਿਬੇਟ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ “ ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਬੋਲਦਾ ਹਾਂ “ ਦੁਪਿਹਰ 12 ਵਜੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੁੱਖ ਸਿਆਸੀ ਧਿਰਾਂ ਜੋ ਹੁਣ ਤੱਕ ਸੱਤਾ ਚ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਆਪਣਾ ਪੱਖ ਰੱਖਣਗੀਆਂ.ਹਰੇਕ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਨੂੰ 30 ਮਿੰਟ ਦਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ.ਪ੍ਰੋ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਜੌੜਾ ਜੀ ਮੰਚ ਸੰਚਾਲਨ ਕਰਨਗੇ..ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਖੁੱਲਾ ਸੱਦਾ
“ਪੰਜਾਬ ਮੰਗਦਾ ਜਵਾਬ”— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) October 26, 2023
He had, following allegations of the opposition accusing him of mishandling the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, legally challenged all parties to debate not just this issue but all concerns of Punjab in public.
In a statement on Thursday, 26 October, Mann said the debate will be centred around Punjab’s “loot” in the past, referring to issues such as nepotism, toll plazas, the 2015 sacrilege case, river water-sharing, among others.
Daring leaders of other political parties to participate in an open debate before Punjabis and the media, the Chief Minister said that they have deceived Punjab on these issues, and are answerable to the people.
“The debate will give the people a clear picture of how they were betrayed while these leaders secured their own interests by committing unpardonable sins. People of the state will never forget and forgive these leaders for the sinister moves against Punjab,” said Mann.
Mann said that the debate will be moderated by Nirmal Jaura, Director of Students’ Welfare at Punjab Agricultural University. Punjab BJP chief Jakhar questioned if Jaura can be unbiased in conducting the debate, given he is a government employee.
“Can he be unbiased?” the BJP leader asked, sharing old pictures of Mann with Jaura to support his claim of a close association between the two.
Jakhar had earlier suggested that a three-member panel be formed to steer the debate. He had proposed the names of former AAP MP Dharamvir Gandhi and former AAP MLAs HS Phoolka and Kanwar Sandhu.
SAD has termed it a “sham debate” and said that the party would not be part of “this anti-Punjab exercise”.
