Chandigarh, July 11: Punjab’s Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has responded to the Abohar mayor election controversy, the expansion of public transport in the state, and alleged factionalism within the Congress party. He criticized the opposition, asserting that the state government is committed to transparency, development, and good governance.
Regarding the controversy surrounding the Abohar mayor election, Cheema stated that all elections for mayors and municipal council presidents in the state were conducted with full transparency. He emphasized that the election of mayors and presidents is the right of elected municipal councillors. They exercised their voting rights to select their representatives, making any questions about the election process unfounded.
On the topic of public transport, the Finance Minister highlighted that Punjab has emerged as a leading state in expanding its government bus fleet. Under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership, the government is set to acquire nearly 700 new buses. The tender process involved Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, with Ashok Leyland winning the bid.
According to Cheema, the new buses will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including CCTV cameras inside and outside, a GPS-based real-time tracking system, and other modern amenities.
He also mentioned that the government has fully digitized the bus ticket booking system. Passengers can now book tickets online from the comfort of their homes and make payments digitally.
Cheema claimed that with the addition of the new buses, the total number of government buses in Punjab will increase to 3,546, representing a nearly 56% rise compared to the current fleet. This expansion aims to provide people with safer, more convenient, and improved public transport services.
Addressing the alleged factionalism within Congress, Cheema accused the party of failing to treat its state president with respect. He further alleged that Congress leadership has sent Bhupesh Baghel to Punjab to engage with leaders facing serious corruption allegations. Cheema asserted that the internal strife within Congress is becoming increasingly evident, clarifying the party’s current situation.
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