BATALA: Batala, one of Punjab’s most historic cities, is set for a major transformation as Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann rolled out development projects worth ₹177 crore, combining large-scale infrastructure expansion with a sharp political message against previous regimes. With over ₹95.72 crore worth of works by the Municipal Corporation (MC), ₹16.05 crore by the Mandi Board, and ₹65.09 crore in road construction by the PWD, alongside fresh repair works worth ₹42.56 crore and ₹34.97 crore, the push includes new bridges, a modern bus stand to ease traffic congestion, and a ₹14.81 crore allocation for new police lines.
Declaring the development drive as a decisive break from the past, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the people of Punjab had ended “three generations of Akali-Congress loot” in 2022 and would not allow their return in 2027, while accusing previous governments of deliberately weakening anti-beadbi laws to protect themselves. He also targeted traditional parties, saying their disconnect from ordinary citizens reflects why people have rejected them, as his government moves to combine governance delivery with accountability.
Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone of several key development projects, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Akalis had deliberately framed weak law against beadbi just to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime were not punished for their sins.” He added, “These leaders were also afraid that they would also get punishment for their crime due to which they ensured that the laws were weak.”
The Chief Minister stated that the Punjab Government has passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, stipulating harsher punishment for beadbi. “The dastardly act of beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was a deep rooted conspiracy to disturb hard earned peace, amity, brotherhood and communal harmony in the state, ” he said.