Punjab Govt Exposed: Ignores High Court Orders, Prioritises Advertisements Over Employees and Athletes — Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala

Amritsar, August 16: BJP Punjab spokesperson Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala welcomed the approval of railway projects worth ₹1,419 crore by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to strengthen railway connectivity in Punjab’s border districts. He said the projects reflect the Centre’s commitment to infrastructure and national security, while questioning the Punjab Government over the unexplained delay in implementing several sanctioned rail and road projects in the state.

Launching a sharp attack on the Bhagwant Mann government, Prof. Khiala alleged that the AAP government has treated the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court with complete disregard. He referred to the High Court’s 3 August order, which directed the state to release approximately ₹14,191 crore in pending Dearness Allowance (DA) dues to nearly 8 lakh employees and pensioners within fifteen days and advised the government to refrain from large-scale publicity expenditure until compliance.
“Instead of honouring the High Court’s directions, the Mann government chose to spend public money on nationwide newspaper advertisements to promote Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party. This clearly shows that political branding has taken precedence over the legitimate rights of employees and pensioners,” he said.
Prof. Khiala further stated that the court-mandated deadline has now expired, yet lakhs of employees and pensioners continue to wait for their lawful dues. “DA and pension are not political favours; they are constitutional, legal and moral entitlements. A government that ignores its own employees while funding political publicity has lost its moral authority,” he added.
He demanded that the Punjab Government immediately explain whether its priority is safeguarding the financial security of employees or financing political advertisements with taxpayers’ money.
Punjab’s Medal Winners Ignored: AAP’s Sports Policy Stands Exposed
In a separate statement, Prof. Khiala condemned the Punjab Government for allegedly neglecting Commonwealth Games 2026 silver medallists Harjinder Kaur and Lovepreet Singh, calling it the biggest failure of the state’s sports policy.
He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally met and congratulated the medal-winning athletes in New Delhi, appreciating their outstanding performances and their contribution to India’s sporting glory. “Ironically, Punjab’s own champions are disappointed with the silence of their Chief Minister and Sports Minister. The question is simple: Does the Punjab Government not value the achievements of its own athletes?” he asked.
Prof. Khiala said that despite a month having passed since their historic victory, there has been no official felicitation, no congratulatory message, and no announcement regarding employment or rewards by the Punjab Government.
He accused the AAP government of making grand promises of a sports revolution, thousands of jobs and a ₹1,744 crore sports budget, while failing to honour athletes who have brought international recognition to Punjab. “The budget is visible in advertisements, not in the lives of sportspersons,” he remarked.
He added that athletes do not merely win medals—they carry Punjab’s pride, sacrifice and aspirations onto the global stage. “When international medallists return home and are forced to wait even for a word of appreciation from their own government, it reflects administrative insensitivity and the collapse of Punjab’s sports policy,” he said.
Prof. Khiala also highlighted the continuing shortage of coaches, inadequate sports infrastructure, lack of equipment and uncertainty regarding employment opportunities for athletes in rural Punjab. He urged the state government to move beyond photo opportunities and implement a transparent, time-bound policy for honouring and rehabilitating international medal winners.
He demanded immediate state-level felicitation for Harjinder Kaur and Lovepreet Singh, release of all eligible rewards, government employment under the sports policy, and a mandatory time-bound honour policy for every international medallist from Punjab.
Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala
Spokesperson, BJP Punjab