Chandigarh: Prominent political leaders from across party lines gathered to mark the 20th anniversary of Aaj Samaj newspaper at an event hosted by ITV Network promoter Kartikeya Sharma. The occasion saw leaders highlighting the role of fearless journalism that the ITV Network has consistently upheld, while also sharing their perspectives on key issues concerning Punjab.
Punjab Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal stated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised to deliver water to the tail ends of canals, and the government has fulfilled this commitment by ensuring supply reaches the last tail. On the state’s financial position, Goyal noted that the previous government left behind a debt of approximately Rs 3 lakh crore, largely due to unpaid power subsidy dues of the electricity board. He added that the present government has cleared the subsidy and also paid the interest on the debt. Over the past four years, no new taxes have been imposed, and GST evasion has been addressed. Referring to the SYL canal dispute, Goyal described the issue as decades old and questioned why it was not resolved when the same parties were in power in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring noted that the AAP government came to power after promising change, which prompted voters to reject both the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress at the time. While he also expected the party to bring something new, Warring expressed confidence about Congress’s prospects in the next Assembly elections, pointing out that the party won seven of the 15 Lok Sabha seats. Calling the position of a state president a “crown of thorns,” he said differences exist in every party and family, but Congress maintains internal democracy unlike others. Regarding the dispute between Ravneet Bittu and Rahul Gandhi, Warring stated that Gandhi did not target Sikhs but swiped at Bittu, alleging he was not allowed to speak in Parliament, which led to suspensions. He added that Gandhi’s three-day seva at Sri Harmandir Sahib reflected his respect for Sikhs. He also stated that drugs and law and order remain major concerns in Punjab.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa remarked that it is now for the people to decide on the government’s performance. While acknowledging that earlier governments may have made mistakes, he said voters believed people from ordinary backgrounds would deliver better governance, but he termed the present AAP government a failure. He remarked that running a stage and running a state are very different. Bajwa alleged that Punjab has suffered setbacks in trade and stated that growth will remain limited until the Amritsar border is reopened, which could spur industrial development. He also raised concerns over mounting debt. On the Rahul Gandhi-Ravneet Bittu row, Bajwa said Gandhi had said nothing wrong and merely pointed out that many BJP leaders in Punjab originally belonged to Congress. He further alleged factionalism within the BJP and claimed he has brought back seven leaders from the party.
BJP leader and former Union minister Vijay Sampla, speaking about the 2027 Assembly elections, said the party has not yet had a full government in Punjab but will reach out to people with the achievements of the Centre. He asserted that the organizational structure is strong and that prominent leaders are joining regularly. Referring to farmers, Sampla stated that those who once opposed the BJP and prevented its leaders from entering villages now admit they were misled about the farm laws and even invite them.
