Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
BJP launches statewide awareness campaign on ‘Viksit Bharat Ji RAM Ji’ scheme from Fazilka
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 7, 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday launched a statewide public awareness campaign on the ‘Viksit Bharat Ji RAM Ji’ scheme from village Kheowali Dhaba in Fazilka district, aiming to counter what it termed as misinformation being spread by opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress.
Addressing the gathering, State BJP President Sunil Jakhar said that the new scheme ensures that money meant for poor labourers reaches them directly, eliminating the role of middlemen. He said the number of employment days has been increased from 100 to 125, providing greater financial security to workers.
“When the rightful money of the poor no longer goes into the pockets of leaders and contractors, those who benefitted from corruption naturally oppose such reforms,” he remarked.
Describing the scheme as a major pro-poor initiative of the Government of India, Jakhar said that under the new system, wages would be credited directly into labourers’ bank accounts, thereby completely eliminating corruption. He alleged that over 6,500 cases of corruption under the old NREGA scheme had surfaced in Punjab, yet the AAP government failed to take action against even a single person involved in looting the poor.
Launching a sharp attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Jakhar said that this year the state government provided only 26 days of employment under the old NREGA scheme, which it is now defending. In Fazilka district, he said, the average employment provided was a mere 17 days. Questioning the Chief Minister, Jakhar asked why the promised 100 days of employment were not ensured if the old scheme was truly effective. He added that unlike the previous arrangement, the new law clearly fixes accountability, which is why the state government is opposing it.
Referring to the upcoming Assembly elections, Jakhar cautioned that while “Delhi-based leaders” may leave, the Chief Minister alone would have to face the anger of the people of Punjab. He urged the state government to address the deteriorating law-and-order situation and work in the larger public interest. He also alleged that the government’s much-publicised “war against drugs” had been reduced to a mere public relations exercise, with little impact on drug trafficking or gangsterism on the ground.
Sunil Jakhar further said that due to the AAP government’s “immature policies,” Punjab today stands at a critical juncture and needs a strong and stable government to pull it out of economic distress. He asserted that the BJP is the only viable alternative capable of ensuring economic growth, stability and development for all sections of society, while restoring Punjab’s lost glory and making it a leading state once again.
Earlier, former minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, MLA Sandeep Jakhar, Vandana Sangwan and other BJP leaders also addressed the gathering. Despite the biting cold, a large number of people turned up to attend the awareness programme.
Later, Sunil Jakhar visited a site near the residence of the Deputy Commissioner in Fazilka, where he alleged that crores of rupees were embezzled under the old NREGA scheme in the name of developing a so-called “Badda Lake.” He pointed out that no lake exists at the site, despite payments having already been made from the government treasury.