Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced that the state government will meet President Droupadi Murmu on May 5 to raise the issue of what he described as "illegal" and "unlawful defection" by seven Rajya Sabha MPs, including six from Punjab, while asserting that such "actions amount to a betrayal of the people's mandate".
Chief Minister Mann told the media here that they have received confirmation from the Rashtrapati Bhawan and on May 5 "we will meet the President of India to raise the issue of illegal and unlawful defection by seven Rajya Sabha MPs".
These MPs who have disrespected the mandate of the people deserve no mercy as they are the traitors of Punjab and Punjabis, he said.
The Chief Minister added, "Those who are terming this defection as the order of the day or a tradition are justifying a grave disregard for the people's verdict. This is unacceptable, and those speaking in such a manner appear to be preparing to shift their allegiance."
Reaffirming the strength of the Punjab government, Chief Minister Mann said the state government "enjoys full confidence both inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha, making any demand for a floor test unnecessary".
"The Budget has been passed smoothly, and every single small or big bill passes the floor test, which clearly reflects that the government is in an absolute majority in the House," he added.
Taking aim at his critics, Chief Minister Mann added, "Those questioning the rationale of convening the Vidhan Sabha session must first answer for the guarantees fulfilled by the Narendra Modi government before raising questions about us."
Responding to a question on the recent railway track blast incident, the Chief Minister said the Punjab government is in constant touch with the Union government and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
"Investigations are underway to establish forward and backward linkages, and the perpetrators of this crime will not be spared," he asserted.
On the issue of water sharing, Chief Minister Mann noted that Haryana has utilised its share of water more judiciously this year, preventing disputes.
He also said that after his meeting with Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the movement of foodgrains from Punjab has been expedited.
"It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that 290 special trains have been deployed to transport grains from the state, ensuring adequate storage space for the upcoming paddy crop," he added.
--IANS