Farmers cheated, women ignored: Congress attacks AAP in Punjab bypolls

Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa launched a scathing attack on the AAP government in Punjab on Sunday, accusing it of failing on all fronts and leaving every section of society feeling betrayed. Speaking in Barnala while campaigning for Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Dhillon ahead of the Punjab Assembly bypolls, Bajwa criticized the government for not fulfilling its electoral promises.

Joined by MP Amar Singh and former minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, Bajwa accused the Bhagwant Mann-led government of neglecting farmers, women, and state employees. Highlighting the issue of paddy procurement, he alleged that the AAP government’s mismanagement has left farmers struggling in mandis. "Farmers are being looted in mandis, forced to accept cuts of Rs 300 per quintal, while CM Mann hasn’t even visited grain markets to assess the situation," Bajwa said.

The Congress leader also targeted the government for failing to deliver on its promise of providing Rs 1,000 monthly to women. He said, "Not a single penny has been paid. Mann promised Rs 1,100 later, but even that remains a hollow claim. Women and every other section feel cheated."

Bajwa further criticized the government for not addressing the shortage of DAP fertilizer, which he claimed was affecting wheat sowing. He urged Chief Minister Mann to engage with the Prime Minister and the food minister to resolve these pressing issues but alleged that Mann has been indifferent.

The Congress leader called upon the people to vote for Kuldeep Singh Dhillon, dismissing BJP candidate Kewal Singh Dhillon's claims about creating Barnala district in 2006. Bajwa clarified that the Congress government had taken this step during its tenure and attributed the credit to the party rather than any individual.

The Barnala bypoll sees a competitive race with candidates including AAP’s Harinder Singh Dhaliwal, BJP’s Kewal Singh Dhillon, SAD (Amritsar)’s Govind Singh Mann, and Independent candidate Gurdeep Singh Batth. The Congress is banking on Bajwa's strong criticism of the AAP government to galvanize support.