Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Returns to Duties Amidst Controversy Following Hospitalization in Delhi
Chandigarh, 21st September 2024: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has returned to his duties after a brief hospital stay in New Delhi. However, the reactions from his political opponents and the silence from AAP leaders regarding the circumstances of his admission highlight a troubling trend in Punjab’s political landscape.
On September 17, Mann fell at the Chandigarh airport after disembarking from a government-chartered plane, leading to discomfort that necessitated a hospital visit. He was advised to go to Apollo Hospital in Delhi for a check-up.
Mann had travelled to Delhi to attend a welcome event for AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who had recently been released on bail in connection with a liquor scam. Shortly after news of Mann’s fall circulated, various opposition leaders mocked him online, attributing the incident to his alleged drinking habits and questioning his choice to seek treatment at a private facility rather than utilizing state-run hospitals.
Despite his hospitalization lasting at least a day, no local politicians expressed concern. Even Mann’s party members refrained from defending him against the critical comments from the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The Chief Minister’s Office remained largely quiet, and when pressed for information, staff members shared photos of Mann meeting with a delegation of businessmen, attempting to convey that all was well.
Political analysts suggest that recent events reflect a new low in Punjab’s political discourse. Mann’s party colleagues’ silence amidst rampant speculation about his future has been particularly striking. Harjeshwar Singh, a professor at SGGS College in Chandigarh, remarked that Mann’s style of politics, which often includes aggressive attacks on opponents, has fostered a culture of retaliatory hostility.
Singh noted that if Mann’s fall was indeed linked to alcohol, party members would likely avoid coming to his aid. Nirmal Singh, a political science professor at Guru Nanak Dev University, added that the harsh language in Punjab politics may have begun with former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, illustrating a broader trend of aggressive political exchanges.
Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira was among the first to speculate whether Mann’s fall was alcohol-related, wishing him a swift recovery while expressing scepticism about his choice of a private hospital. Khaira has been a consistent critic of Mann and the AAP.
Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, while wishing Mann well, also criticized him for selecting a Delhi hospital over Punjab’s health facilities, calling it hypocritical. He condemned the AAP’s promises as empty rhetoric, emphasizing that the reality faced by the people of Punjab differs starkly from the party’s claims.
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia seized the opportunity to allege that Mann was intoxicated during his flight and suggested that his fall was a result of this behaviour. Majithia has faced legal challenges but has accused the AAP government of targeting him for his criticisms.
The situation underscores the increasing divisiveness and personal attacks characterizing Punjab’s political environment.
