Bhagwant Mann
National News: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership on Wednesday called upon women to participate more actively in politics and social reform. The appeal came during the party’s Women Wing Leadership Training Program, where AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal addressed the gathering through video conferencing, and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann delivered a speech in person.
The event saw the presence of several prominent leaders, including AAP’s Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, Punjab Women Wing president and Moga MLA Amandeep Kaur Arora, and Punjab State Women Commission Chairperson Rajlali Gill.
In his virtual address, Kejriwal asserted that AAP stands apart from other political parties in offering women genuine opportunities to join active politics. He accused rival parties of limiting women’s roles to rally participation and ceremonial appearances, without allowing grassroots women leaders to rise within the system.
Highlighting the government’s work for women since coming to power, Kejriwal pointed to the ‘Yuddh Nasha Viruddh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign as a major initiative benefiting women. He noted that drug addiction devastates families, with women often bearing the brunt when husbands or children fall prey to substance abuse. He urged women to join the anti-drug movement wholeheartedly, both by encouraging treatment for addicted family members and by leading awareness drives in their communities.
“The government has ensured state-of-the-art facilities at de-addiction centres, even installing air conditioning to ensure comfort for patients,” he said, adding that helping someone overcome addiction is “the most pious and socially valuable work one can do.”
Kejriwal also reflected on the challenges faced by his party, stating that despite political conspiracies, arrests, and attempts to break AAP, the party remained strong due to “the blessings of the poor and common citizens.” He credited initiatives such as free electricity, upgraded schools, mohalla clinics, and modernised government hospitals for improving the lives of low-income families — benefits so tangible that even supporters of BJP and Congress, he claimed, now acknowledge them.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticised opposition parties for confining their women’s wings to a few leaders while sidelining women from ordinary backgrounds. He emphasised that AAP not only inducts women into its fold but also trains them in leadership and active political engagement. Drawing a parallel between running a household and running a country, Mann said, “Just as a home cannot function smoothly without women, the nation too cannot progress without their active cooperation.”
He underlined the direct impact of welfare schemes on women, noting that free electricity and mohalla clinics help them manage household expenses amidst rising inflation. Citing an anecdote from a milkman, Mann said that women’s savings from reduced electricity bills now enable families to pay dues promptly, cover healthcare costs, and afford children’s school fees.
Mann also shared feedback from citizens on the anti-drug campaign, with many women reporting that reduced substance abuse had brought peace and stability back to their homes. He praised women’s economic empowerment through self-help groups, pointing to the example of 100 women in Sangrur who started a collective business and now earn a combined turnover of ₹1.5 crore per month.
The Chief Minister highlighted other steps taken to empower women, including large-scale recruitment in Punjab Police and sponsoring training trips for women Sarpanchs and Panchs — such as sending around 350 elected women representatives from Fatehgarh Sahib to Maharashtra for skill development, with all expenses borne by the government. Concluding his address, Mann reiterated the government’s “firm commitment to women’s empowerment,” promising that the coming years would show visible and lasting results of these policies.
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