In the land where words were once used to unite hearts and inspire revolutions, the current Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, seems to have turned the sacred gift of speech into a weapon of mockery. His recent use of the phrase “Kairon-Kuron” to describe one of Punjab’s most visionary Chief Ministers, Late Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, has left the public stunned and saddened.
One wonders if the Chief Minister, who often prides himself on being a “poet of the people,” has now confused statesmanship with stand-up comedy. There was a time when Punjab’s leaders spoke with dignity — now, the language of governance has been reduced to the language of the galli.
Calling a legendary leader like Kairon such a derogatory name is not merely an insult to one man — it’s an insult to Punjab’s political heritage. Sardar Partap Singh Kairon was among the architects of modern Punjab: visionary, disciplined, and deeply committed to the progress of farmers and workers. To humiliate his legacy with a cheap wordplay only reveals Bhagwant Mann’s poor upbringing and lack of political grace.
It’s ironic that the same man who once entertained audiences with satire now is the subject of it. Perhaps Bhagwant Mann believes that the Chief Minister’s chair is another stage and the mic is still his prop. But Punjab deserves statesmanship, not stand-up.
If there remains even a trace of decency or humility, Bhagwant Mann should tender a public apology to the people of Punjab and to the family of Sardar Partap Singh Kairon. Respecting our predecessors is not weakness — it’s what separates leaders from jesters.
After all, when the Chief Minister of Punjab forgets the language of respect, the entire political discourse of Punjab begins to sound like a bad comedy show — one that no one asked for, and no one wants to watch anymore.