Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi It was Mann’s first meeting with Modi after being sworn in as the chief minister of Punjab.
Mann is reported to have discussed issues related to Punjab. After the meeting, Mann said that he demanded a package of Rs 50,000 crore per year for two years to improve the state’s financial condition.
“We need the support of the Center to maintain national security. Punjab’s financial condition is in the doldrums. We’ve demanded Rs 50,000 crores package per year for 2 years to improve the state’s financial situation,” he said.
Ahead of his meeting with PM Modi, Mann had tweeted “after taking over as the chief minister of Punjab, I have sought time from the Prime Minister and Home Minister for a courtesy call and to discuss issues related to Punjab.”
Mann was administered oath as the CM on March 16 at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Punjab’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar district.
The PM had congratulated him for becoming the Punjab CM.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Congratulations to Shri @BhagwantMann Ji on taking oath as Punjab CM. Will work together for the growth of Punjab and welfare of the state’s people.”
The Aam Aadmi Party won 92 seats in the 117-member Punjab Assembly, decimating the Congress and the SAD-BSP, BJP-Punjab Lok Congress-Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) combine.
The Prime Minister had also congratulated the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for its clean sweep in the Punjab Assembly elections and assured the party of all possible help from the Centre.
Mann, a former comedian, 48, replaced Congress’ Charanjit Channi as the Chief Minister, became Punjab’s youngest CM in nearly four decades.
In his first cabinet meeting, his government announced 25,000 government jobs for the youth of Punjab and on March 23, an anti-corruption helpline – 9501200200 – was launched.
The helpline will allow people to upload videos of officials asking for a bribe or indulging in other malpractices and a dedicated team of police officials has also been set up for this purpose.
