New Delhi: Shortly after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab, Charanjit Singh Channi held a press conference to make important announcements for the people of Punjab. He thanked the Congress high command for entrusting him with this responsibility and said that the government is for the people as their CM is an 'aam aadmi' who understands their problems and needs.
Speaking about his background he revealed that his father was a rickshaw puller and his mother used to work at other people's houses, Channi turned a bit emotional and assured that he is a people's man and will do everything to improve their lives. With Punjab PCC Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and the party's state in-charge Harish Rawat on his side he made it clear that he will fulfill the promises made by Congress to the people.
There are the key points made by Charanjit Singh Channi in his first press conference as the Punjab Chief Minister:
- Keeping farmers the focus of his address, he said that the state government stand with the protesting farmers and urged the centre to repeal the farm laws
- Channi said that he has stood with the farmers earlier and now he will go to any extent to relieve them from their misery. He said that if the farmers don't flourish, the country will stop developing and the economy will be ruined.
- The new Punjab CM announced a waiver of pending water and electricity bills of the farmers.
- Keeping in line with the Aam Aadmi statement he promised to stand with the people and listen to the grievances. He further said that police will be restricted to misuse their power in the state. He also mentioned that rules will be the same for all be it a common man, a political leader, or a celebrity.
- Channi appreciated the former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and said that he did a lot of good work for the people of Punjab and they will take forward his work.
- “I am a representative of the common man, the farmer and anyone who is oppressed. I am not a representative of the rich. Those who are into sand-mining and other illegal activities, don't come to me. I am not your representative,” the new Chief Minister declared.
Channi is the first Dalit Sikh to become Chief Minister of Punjab. He has two deputies, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Om Prakash Soni.