Mann says Modi govt indulging in vendetta politics

Says central govt was making attempts to usurp the powers vested in the states and tinkering with the federal structure to pursue its political interests

: Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of indulging in vendetta politics in states like Punjab, Delhi and West Bengal where its leadership has miserably failed to get people’s mandate.

The chief minister, while wrapping up the discussion on the resolution moved by him, said the Centre was making attempts to usurp the powers vested in the states and tinkering with the federal structure to pursue their political interests. He said that step-motherly treatment was being meted out by the Centre to Punjab.

“Punjab asked for extra power from the central pool, but they refused and gave it to Haryana. Delhi had to file a petition in the high court to get a stay on this,” he said, condemning the Centre’s attitude.

Mann also narrated an incident from his days as MP, saying that ultras attacked the Pathankot airbase in 2016 and the state police force accompanied by the central security forces retaliated the attack and assisted in eliminating terrorists without caring for their personal safety. “To my utter surprise, the Centre raised a bill of Rs 7.5 crore for providing Central security forces to the state. This amount was finally waived after I along with fellow MP Sadhu Singh met the then Union home minister Rajnath Singh,” he said.

Mann said it was highly paradoxical that the border state, which was facing the brunt of

terrorism, was also being made to pay hefty amount on account of its security.

Mann also hit out at the BJP for questioning his government’s intention behind the resolution reiterating the state’s claim over Chandigarh. Taking a jibe at BJP legislator Ashwani Sharma, Mann said they (BJP leaders) get their speeches straight from Nagpur, which is the headquarters of the RSS. “I have heard a lot about ‘Nagpuri santre’ (oranges from Nagpur) but I heard ‘Nagpuri’ speech for the first time. They get their address straight from Nagpur,” the chief minister said.

Sharma, while opposing the resolution, had questioned in the House the intention behind it.

Takes swipe at Cong

Mann also took swipes at Congress leaders, starting with his predecessor Charanjit Singh Channi without naming him directly. “We know how to run the state. Those who used to say that running the stage and state are different are not visible anywhere in the state or stage,” he said. “The one who used to say thoko taali has not come here,” the CM said, taking a dig at former state Congress chief Navjot Sidhu without naming him.