New Delhi: Punjab's new Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday announced that an anti-corruption helpline would be launched on Shaheed Diwas on March 23.
In a video message, Mann reminded people that when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in Delhi, people were asked to provide videos or audio of corrupt officials. "With this, corruption ended completely in Delhi," he claimed.
"People of the state will be able to lodge complaints on corruption via WhatsApp. That will be my personal WhatsApp number. If anyone asks you for any bribe, make a video/audio recording of it and send it to me. Strict action will be taken against the corrupt. Corruption will no longer work in Punjab," Mann said.
The announcement comes after he informed that "a very big decision will be taken today in the interest of Punjab."
"No one in the history of Punjab would have taken such a decision till date," he had stated in a post.
Earlier in the day, Punjab's newly-elected MLAs, including Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, took oath as members of the Legislative Assembly.
The newly-elected MLAs were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Protem Speaker Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar.
"Sworn in as MLA in Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The Aam Aadmi Party government will bring a new change in Punjab for which the people have chosen us. Our government will be known as the most honest government of Punjab," Mann tweeted.
Inderbir Singh Nijjer has been appointed as Protem Speaker of the Punjab Assembly.
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We Will Not Waste Even A Single Day: Bhagwant Mann
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday assumed the charge of his office at the Punjab Civil Secretariat after his oath-taking ceremony at Khatkar Kalan village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.
In the swearing-in ceremony that saw tens of thousands of people in attendance, CM Bhagwant promised to fight unemployment and corruption in the state.
"The work will start from today itself. We will not waste even a single day. We are already late by 70 years," he said at the public meeting at freedom fighter Bhagat Singh's village, as reported by news agency PTI
The former comedian also advised humility to Aam Aadmi Party volunteers as he stated that there should not be any report saying they have become arrogant.
At the mega public event, Mann accepted a huge burden of expectations -- his. How he runs the show in Punjab will also have a bearing on AAP's fortunes in the coming years as the party seeks to expand its footprint further across the nation.
Bhagwant Mann is the first non-Congress and non-Akali leader to become the CM after the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966. Aam Aadmi Party had swept the assembly polls, winning 92 of the 117 assembly seats, ousting the Congress party for power as it bagged only 18 seats.
Among AAP's poll promises, the popular ones are Rs 1,000 to all adult women and 300 units of free electricity per month for every household.
(With Agency Inputs)