Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann revealed on Thursday that Punjab's main political parties would be called upon to address their past actions and "misdeeds" during the upcoming 'Main Punjab Bolda Haan' debate scheduled for November 1, to be held in Ludhiana. The debate will take place in an auditorium at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).
In an X post, Mann said, "The name of the debate to be held at Ludhiana on November 1 at 12 noon will be 'Main Punjab Bolda Haan.' The main political parties of Punjab, which have held power, will present their side of the story, with each party allotted a 30-minute slot."
This initiative stems from Mann's challenge to leaders of other political parties, including Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, to engage in an open debate on matters concerning the state. The challenge was issued in response to opposition parties' criticisms of the Aam Aadmi Party government's handling of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.
According to a PTI report, Mann stated that the debate would centre on Punjab's historical issues, which are often referred to as "loot," and would include topics such as nepotism, toll plazas, the 2015 sacrilege case, river water-sharing, and other pertinent concerns.
Mann challenged rival political party leaders to an open debate in front of the people and the media, claiming that these leaders owed an explanation to the citizens and that they had deceived Punjab on these key issues, according to the report.
According to the report, the Chief Minister stated that the debate would give the public a thorough understanding of how they had been misled by these leaders who had pursued their personal interests by committing "unpardonable sins". He stated that the people of the state would not easily forget or forgive Punjab's actions.
The debate will be moderated by Nirmal Jaura, the Director of Students Welfare at PAU.
However, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar questioned Jaura's ability to remain impartial while moderating the debate due to his status as a government employee. Jakhar shared old photographs of Mann with Jaura to underscore his assertion of a close association between the two.
Previously, Jakhar had proposed the formation of a three-member panel to oversee the debate, suggesting the names of former MP Dharamvira Gandhi, former MLA H. S. Phoolka, and Kanwar Sandhu.
On the other hand, the Shiromani Akali Dal has labeled the debate as a "sham," declaring their refusal to participate in what they perceive as an "anti-Punjab exercise".