Opposition parties in Punjab skipped an open debate called by Chief Ministe𝕴r Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday to discuss issues related to the state, with the BJP slamming it as a government sponsored and controlled event.
The Shiromani Akali🦂 Dal (SAD) a day earlier had said, &qu𝔍ot;It is not a debate. It is a PR exercise and PR stunt."
On October 8, Mann had dared opposition leaders -- Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhꦗar, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal -- for an open debate on issues concerning the state, including the Sutlej-Y🌺amuna Link (SYL) canal matter.
Slamming the opposition over the SYL canal issue, Chief Minister Mann said previous governments in Punjab, whether that oꦆf the Congress or the SAD, have compromisꦏed the state's interests in the matter.
Mann, who was alone on the dais with no opposition leaders in attendance, also produced some documents to substantiate his allegations. The 'Main Punjab Bolda Haan' debate was held at an auditorium of the Pu🔯njab Agricultural 🐷University.
Earlier, someꦰ members of various teachers' organisations were not allowed to reach the debate's venue, while members of th🦩e Krantikari Kisan Union were not allowed to enter.
The BJP said that it wanted to participate inও the debate but no proper procedure was fo🌃llowed.
State BJP general secretary Anil Sarin said it was a government sponsored and government controlled debate with hardly any scope for anyone else to speak and put forth their point of view✅ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ. "It was all theirs with their anchor, agenda and audience," he said, while claiming that it was a pointless exercise of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab.
-With PTI Input
