Photo Source: Babushhai Bureau
Pargat Singh slams CM–SGPC row, raises questions on MGNREGA claims
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 7, 2026: Reacting to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) summoning Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, former Punjab Education Minister and Congress MLA Pargat Singh on Tuesday said that the move was not prudent and that the state government should refrain from interfering in matters unrelated to sacrilege.
Pargat Singh asserted that the current controversy should not be termed a sacrilege issue. “The real sacrilege incidents took place in Bargari and Behbal Kalan. Despite claims of approving prosecution against the Dera Sacha Sauda, the Punjab Government has failed to take concrete action. Instead of addressing the actual cases of sacrilege, the government is politicising internal religious affairs, which is not in the interest of the nation, society or the Sikh community,” he said.
Commenting on recent changes in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) framework and allegations of corruption, Pargat Singh questioned the Centre’s decision to raise the employment guarantee limit to 125 days.
“During the BJP-led government’s tenure, even 50 days of employment out of the guaranteed 100 days could not be ensured. How will the Centre now guarantee 125 days? The focus should have been on effectively achieving the 100-day target and curbing corruption,” he remarked.
He further claimed that in the past three years, the Punjab Government has managed to provide an average of only 38 days of employment under MGNREGA, with just 26 days achieved so far this year. “Last year, ₹99,000 crore was spent on MGNREGA across India, including ₹10,000 crore contributed by states. In Punjab, ₹1,450 crore was spent, of which ₹99 crore came from the state exchequer. If the present trend continues, Punjab’s contribution may rise to ₹550 crore this year,” he said.
Recalling the objective of the scheme, Pargat Singh said MGNREGA was launched by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to provide employment to the poor and unemployed, especially women, adding that around 22 crore people across the country are associated with it.
Taking a dig at the Aam Aadmi Party government’s campaign against drugs, Pargat Singh questioned the launch of a second phase of the drive by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Jalandhar. “Was the drug menace eliminated in the first phase that a second phase had to be announced? The government keeps announcing scripted campaigns that last barely a week or ten days,” he said.
Warning the state government, Pargat Singh stated that any sincere reform could be implemented within six months if there was political will. “The people of Punjab are disheartened. A good government ensures punishment for criminals and dignity for law-abiding citizens. Under the AAP regime, Punjab is being turned into a police state, with the police acting as puppets of the government, which is unhealthy for both the state and the country,” he alleged.
Commenting on global developments, including recent U.S. actions regarding Venezuela and threats of increased tariffs on India, Pargat Singh said the current geopolitical situation was moving in a dangerous direction and cautioned that such actions could have serious international repercussions.