CM Mann chooses March 23 Matrydom Day for anti-corruption helpline launch
Ruchika M Khanna
Chandiharh, March 17
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday announced an anti-corruption helpline number. Mann chose the March 23 Matrydom Day for the launch of the helpline.
This is the first major announcement made by Mann after he took over as Punjab Chief Minister yesterday.
ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦੀ ਦਿਨ ‘ਤੇ ਅਸੀਂ anti-corruption ਹੈਲਪਲਾਈਨ ਨੰਬਰ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰਾਂਗੇ। ਉਹ ਮੇਰਾ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਵਟਸਐਪ ਨੰਬਰ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਜੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਤੋਂ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਰਿਸ਼ਵਤ ਮੰਗੇ, ਉਸਦੀ ਵੀਡੀਓ/ਆਡੀਓ ਰਿਕਾਰਡਿੰਗ ਕਰਕੇ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਭੇਜ ਦੇਣਾ। ਭ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟਾਚਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਐਕਸ਼ਨ ਲਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੁਣ ਭ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟਾਚਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਚੱਲੇਗਾ।
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) March 17, 2022
Claiming that this would be his personal WhatsApp number, he asked people to record on video or audio, any instance where graft was being sought and send it on that WhatsApp number. He assured strict action would be taken against those who seek graft. “There will be no corruption in Punjab now,” he tweeted.
Interestingly, since the AAP Government took over, reports were coming in from different tehsils yesterday, where land registries were being done free of cost–something that is unheard of in the state.
Earlier in the day, Mann tweeted that a big pro-people decision would be taken on Thursday.
पंजाब की जनता के हित में आज एक बहुत बड़ा फ़ैसला लिया जाएगा। पंजाब के इतिहास में आज तक किसी ने ऐसा फैसला नहीं लिया होगा।
कुछ ही देर में एलान करूँगा…।
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) March 17, 2022
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mann today exhorted the top brass of state civil and police administration to discharge their duty as public servant in letter and spirit, thus respecting the massive mandate got by AAP in the recently concluded Assembly polls.
Addressing a maiden meeting after assuming charge as Chief Minister here at CMO this afternoon, the Chief Minister said that the people who have given us an opportunity to serve the state are the real rulers in the democracy, having the power to make the leaders to rule or show them the door.
Taking a cue from the performance of the Indian cricket team, Mann said, ”Matches are won or lost but it is the team spirit which matters.” Therefore, he urged the officers to display team spirit immaculately to make Punjab as the frontrunner state. He further said, “Our prime concern should be to make our state as real Punjab, not London, California or Paris.”
The Chief Minister said that his government would not indulge in political vendetta and asked the entire state administration to discharge their duties fearlessly without any political pressure, unlike earlier regimes, with utmost dedication, sincerity and honesty to cherish the aspirations of the Punjabis who have voted the AAP to power with unprecedented verdict.
“I don’t keep red diary like the earlier political parties and have only green one, so you need not worry about any vendetta,” Mann said.
Appreciating the enormous capabilities and capacities of both civil and police officers, CM Mann said, “I expect you to respect the common man, and in turn we would too give you respect and due recognition in exhibiting the real spirit of being a public servant.” Without mincing any word, he said, “Corrupt officers have no place in my government and if any such complaint comes to my notice, then don’t expect any sort of sympathy from me.”
Ensuring a corruption-free government, Mann announced that his government would launch a WhatsApp number on coming March 23 on the martyrdom day of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh exclusively for public to upload videos of corrupt officials demanding bribe for their day-to-day works or indulging in other malpractices so that such erring officials could be given an exemplary punishment.
Breaking the tradition, the Chief Minister also announced to reward both civil and police officers with ‘Best Performance Award’ quarterly for making the difference in the lives of common man at the grass-roots level besides ensuring free and fair justice to one and all to boost their morale. He hoped this initiative would surely motivate the other officers to perform far better and efficaciously. The Chief Minister also directed the DGP to send a congratulatory message addressing to the family members of all police employees on their birthdays with a sense of belongingness.
Reiterating his commitment to make Punjab as a model state, Mann said the foremost concern of his government would be to create abundant job opportunities for our youth to check the unfortunate trend of brain drain from our state to foreign shores. He said, “This scenario has even forced the poor and hapless parents to sell off their properties for sending their wards abroad for better prospects to earn livelihood.” He promised his government would soon come up with a comprehensive action plan to generate tremendous job potential for our unemployed youth on top priority.
Earlier, in his introductory address, the State chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari welcomed the Chief Minister and assured that both the civil and police administration would work in tandem with complete synergy to implement the pro-people policies and programs at the ground level in the right earnest as per the government’s directive.
Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Additional Chief Secretary to CM A. Venu Prasad and DGP VK Bhawra besides senior civil and police officers.
