Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accusing them of neglecting education and the poor during their respective tenures.Addressing a state-level function in Adampur, Jalandhar, to mark Dr B R Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, Mann said, “The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt is reversing this legacy of neglect by prioritising education and women’s financial empowerment to realise Babasaheb’s vision of dignity and equal opportunity.”He alleged that both Congress and SAD had ensured the “systematic denial of education to the poor”. “Keeping underprivileged communities uneducated was a deliberate political choice that crushed generations of Dalit youth while scholarship funds meant for their upliftment were siphoned off,” Mann said.Highlighting his govt’s focus, Mann said, “In consonance with the life and philosophy of Babasaheb, we have prioritised education and taken path-breaking initiatives to transform lives.”He stressed that education was key to tackling poverty. “No freebie or concession can eliminate poverty… education is the key that can pull people out of this vicious circle,” he said.Taking a swipe at former CM Parkash Singh Badal, Mann said, “Rather than empowering people through quality education, Badals ensured that students of the poor remained confined to schemes like Atta Dal.”Referring to the ‘Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana’, Mann said critics “don’t know the value of ₹1,000 for common people”. “Those who spend more than ₹5,000 per meal… don’t value this money,” he said.He also encouraged greater participation of women in public life. “It is imperative that girls come forward and empower themselves through education,” he said, adding that women must play a larger role in decision-making.Attacking Congress further, Mann said the party was a “divided house” with no vision for the state. He also appealed to people to enrol under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna for cashless treatment up to ₹10 lakh.Extending Vaisakhi greetings, Mann said the occasion reflects Punjab’s rich cultural heritage.
