Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann handed over appointment letters to 801 newly recruited youth in Mohali on Tuesday, ahead of the Diwali festival. According to the state government, the total number of recruitments under his government has now reached 71,777.
Key points
- 801 newly recruited candidates received government appointment letters in Mohali.
- The state government says total recruitments under CM Mann have reached 71,777.
- Mann said all jobs were given on merit, without money or recommendation.
- He said another 600 youth will get government jobs next week.
Claims of merit-based recruitment
According to the official press release, Mann said all the appointments were made purely on merit, with no "cash" or recommendation involved. He alleged that in earlier governments, government jobs were sold for lakhs of rupees through money, political influence and bribes. He said his government had ensured transparent recruitment and that not a single rupee was paid as a bribe.
Mann challenged the opposition to point out even one instance of corruption in recruitment. Calling the day historic and emotional for the 801 families, he said the appointment letters were not merely pieces of paper but symbols of hope, dignity and a secure future. He added that talent, and not political connections or money, should decide the future of Punjab's youth.
Message on social media and reply to opposition
In posts on X, the Chief Minister said jobs had been given free of cost and strictly on merit. He also said that because of work done in the education sector, Punjab now ranks number one in the country in primary education. He said the aim was to make Punjab "Rangla Punjab" once again by bringing employment and prosperity to every household. He congratulated the new recruits and their families and asked them to serve the people with complete honesty and dedication.
Speaking to the gathering, Mann said the opposition was running a malicious campaign against him because it had no substantive issue. He challenged opposition leaders to prove even one allegation of corruption against him or quit politics. He claimed they were frustrated because they could not accept the pace of development and welfare work under his government.
Mann also responded to the allegation that he was plundering the state exchequer. He said all government work was for public welfare and that public money belongs to the people of Punjab. He said his government considers itself a trustee of that money, unlike those who, in his words, treated the treasury as personal property.
What happens next
Mann announced that another 600 youth will receive government jobs next week. He said around 600 additional recruitment opportunities have already been created for ancillary positions in PSPCL, the state power utility, which he said would further strengthen employment prospects for young people.
The figures and claims in this report come from the state government's press release and the Chief Minister's statements, as reported by Times Now.
