BATHINDA: Expressing anger over the appointment of the chief justice of Punjab and Haryana high court without waiting for the Punjab government’s permission, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said the state government had been asked for its permission for the appointment.“Today, the appointment has been announced even without waiting for the state government’s permission. It seems there is no need for a word from the state government. The BJP government at the Centre does not give any importance to Punjab,” Mann said while addressing a Lok Milni at Ghudda village in Bathinda on Sunday evening.Recalling a similar instance, Mann said that in 2024, Punjab-based Justice GS Sandhawalia was proposed to be appointed as chief justice of the Madhya Pradesh high court, but the MP government did not give its permission.Justice Sandhawalia was subsequently appointed chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh high court.Training his guns on the Badals along with the BJP, Mann said that despite the BJP “snatching the rights of Punjab”, the Badals were eager to join hands with the BJP by stitching an alliance, as power was more important to them.“The Badals earlier used to speak against the BJP and used to say that 750 farmers died due to the BJP,” Mann said.Mann further said governments have sources and, according to their sources, an alliance was being stitched on the condition that the SAD would get the three repealed farm laws passed, for which the party had given an assurance.“Now either Sukhbir or Harsimrat Badal will be appointed as Union minister. They always remain ready to sell the interests of Punjab, as we have seen in Panjab University, where its student wing SOI supported ABVP,” Mann said.
