Bhagwant Mann sworn in as Punjab CM; Inderbir Nijjer appointed protem speaker
Sanjeev Singh Bariana and Aparna Banerjee
Khatkar Kalan, March 16
Bhagwant Mann was administered the oath of office as Punjab chief minister by Governor Banwari Lal Purohit here on Wednesday.
Inderbir Singh Nijjer, Amrtisar South MLA, was appointed Protem Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, ahead of the session scheduled from March 17 to 22.
After the swearing-in, addressing his supporters sporting yellow turbans and dupattas, Mann said, “We are already late. We will begin our journey today itself – our long journey to end unemployment, usher reforms in agriculture, improve hospitals and transform education.”
Mann said, “We will ensure qualitative change in education and work out corresponding employment of youth to stop flight of youth abroad. We will make ground for their bright future here.”
Mann said, “We will change our schools. We will take them to the level of Delhi where foreigners came to see the transformation and its quality. They will soon be coming here and we will show them.”
He said, “We will leave a legacy of work quality which will qualify it to be taught in textbooks to our future generations. It will teach them about when the time changed in their state and from what it changed. The answer will be March 10, 2022. It will assure them that they can vote without fear.”
Mann asked his party workers to do honest work and be polite in their conduct with people on the ground. “Even our opponents are our own people and we will show them all respect”.
He also asked his workers to stay away from using any wrong words on social media.
Mann appreciated Arvind Kejriwal for bringing the party this far after a long struggle.
Besides ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ and ‘Bole so nihal’, Mann said ‘Inqulaab zindabad’ at least thrice during the ceremony at the village of Bhagat Singh. He said he chose the village to remind people of the sacrifice of the leader for the nation.
All AAP MLAs were seated on the left of the stage and Delhi cabinet members, including Kejriwal, were on the right.
