Lehragaga, October 24:- After visiting an Aam Aadmi Clinic here, Punjab Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, while speaking to the media, reacted to discussions about a possible renewed alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said the people of Punjab were well aware of the policies and performance of both parties. He asserted that the political outcome of the proposed alliance would be “zero plus zero”, as the people of Punjab now prioritise development, public welfare and work being carried out at the grassroots level.
The Cabinet Minister said that whether the two parties reached an agreement was their internal decision, but it would not change the public’s opinion of their past performance. He alleged that despite remaining in power in Punjab for a long period and being an ally in the Central government, both parties had failed to fulfil their responsibility to protect Punjab’s interests.
Referring to the farmers’ agitation, Barinder Kumar Goyal said that farmers who fill the country’s food grain reserves had to wage a prolonged struggle to secure their rights. He claimed that more than 750 farmers lost their lives during the struggle. He said the people of Punjab could not forget the suffering endured by farmers’ families and would not forgive those responsible.
He said the Aam Aadmi Party was approaching the people on the strength of their trust and the public-welfare initiatives being undertaken by its government. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government was focused on meeting people’s basic needs and strengthening healthcare, education and other public services.
Commenting on former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s recent visit, the Cabinet Minister said the entire area was mourning following the tragic incident in which eight labourers died and 12 people were injured. He said that, at such a time, expressing sympathy with the affected families and offering them support was a collective responsibility.
Referring to photographs circulated on social media, Barinder Kumar Goyal said that Channi’s acceptance of bouquets while visiting to express condolences was inappropriate given the seriousness of the occasion. Describing it as insensitive conduct, he said public representatives should exercise particular restraint and sensitivity during occasions of mourning.
Responding to Channi’s remarks about the Lehragaga Medical College, the Cabinet Minister said the project was a major achievement for the constituency and surrounding areas. He said that understanding its significance required recognising the needs of people who had to travel to distant cities for specialised treatment. He added that he did not need any certificate of approval from Charanjit Singh Channi to establish the importance of this initiative.
Rejecting allegations that government property was being sold, Barinder Kumar Goyal said the old engineering college had remained closed and its building had continued to deteriorate. He said the Punjab government had taken steps to put the premises to use for medical education and healthcare services so that the property could serve the public. According to him, the project would benefit not only Lehragaga and neighbouring areas but also people from the neighbouring state of Haryana.
The Cabinet Minister said medical services were being provided to people at the local Community Health Centre with the support of the Jain community. He said knee-replacement and laparoscopic surgeries were being performed free of cost there. According to him, similar surgeries at private hospitals could cost approximately ₹70,000 to ₹80,000, while the free facility was providing substantial financial relief to poor and needy families.
He said providing better treatment to people close to their homes was a government priority. The establishment of the medical college would give a boost to the expansion of healthcare services and medical education in the region.
Barinder Kumar Goyal said that when the Punjab Cabinet approved the medical college in Lehragaga on January 9, local residents had expressed great happiness. He said the welcome extended by the people when he arrived in the area with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and other leaders was proof of how important the project was to the local community.
The Cabinet Minister urged opposition leaders to familiarise themselves with the facts and ground realities before commenting on public-interest projects. He said constructive criticism was an important part of democracy, but people should not be misled through baseless statements. He reiterated that the Punjab government would continue its efforts to serve the people and develop the constituency.
