Amritsar(Sandeep Singh Chahal): Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia has launched a sharp attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the announcement of a new medical college in Malerkotla, accusing the Chief Minister of repeatedly making announcements without delivering projects that were previously promised.
Reacting to Mann’s latest announcement, Majithia alleged that the Chief Minister was presenting another “concocted tale” to the people of Punjab. His remarks focused particularly on the contrast between the government’s fresh announcement for Malerkotla and its earlier claims regarding the proposed medical college at Mastuana Sahib.
Majithia pointed out that the Punjab government had previously projected the Mastuana Sahib medical college as a major healthcare and medical-education project. He questioned what had happened to those earlier assurances and the foundation stone laid for the project.
The political attack comes after Mann reiterated plans for a medical college in Malerkotla. The project has been reported as a ₹563-crore initiative with capacity for 100 MBBS seats, alongside additional healthcare infrastructure.
Majithia’s central argument is that announcements and foundation stones cannot substitute for completed projects. He suggested that the people of Punjab should judge the government not by speeches, ceremonies or promises, but by whether projects are actually completed and become operational.
The Mastuana Sahib reference has particular political significance because it is located in Sangrur district, which is closely associated with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Majithia used this comparison to question the credibility of announcing another medical college when, according to his criticism, earlier commitments remain unresolved.
The controversy also highlights a broader issue in Punjab politics: the growing political importance of large infrastructure announcements ahead of their actual execution. Medical colleges require land, financing, construction, staffing, accreditation and sustained operational funding. A government announcement therefore represents only the beginning of a long process, not the completion of a medical institution.
Majithia’s remarks are likely to intensify the political debate over the Mann government’s record on major development projects. His challenge is straightforward: if previous medical-college promises have not reached completion, the government must explain their present status, expenditure, construction progress and expected operational dates before announcing new projects.
For Malerkotla residents, the issue ultimately goes beyond political rhetoric. A functioning medical college could significantly expand access to specialist healthcare, create medical education opportunities and generate employment. The demand from the public should therefore be for a transparent timeline, publicly available project details and measurable progress.
The political battle between Majithia and Mann is expected to continue, but the larger question for Punjab remains whether government announcements are being converted into functioning institutions. For the people, the real test is not the foundation stone or the announcement from the stage—it is the day when doctors, students and patients actually enter a completed medical college.