Positioning Punjab as the emerging epicentre of India’s next industrial revolution, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday urged business leaders to “invest their heart and soul” in building a Rangla Punjab, assuring them of unwavering state support. Speaking at a high-powered CEO Conclave attended by top industrialists from across the country, the AAP Chief said the AAP government stands ready to partner with industry to build a future of shared prosperity.
Backing him, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured that his government would facilitate industry “in every possible manner”, adding that direct feedback from business leaders would be key to shaping pro-growth policy. During this, senior AAP leader and Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia, Minister Sanjeev Arora, Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, and other senior leaders from the state were also present.
In a room filled with some of India’s most respected industrial minds, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal broke from political convention and said the time for hollow speeches was over. “For the past hour and a half, we’ve listened patiently to all of you. We wrote down every point—because we want this to be a two-way conversation. We didn’t come here to give a speech and walk away. We came here to work together.”
He praised the ambitious vision of Plaksha University and its goal of entering the global top 10 in higher education. Drawing from his own early efforts in Delhi, he said, “When I first became Chief Minister, I called the VCs of all Delhi universities and asked them: tell me what you need to make your universities world-class. I said don’t worry about the funds. But none of them had a vision.”
Shifting focus to the crisis his government inherited in Punjab, the AAP Chief was unsparing in his criticism of past regimes. “When we formed the government, Punjab was in ruins. Every second child was addicted to drugs. I ask you—if all our youth are on drugs, what kind of industry are we going to build? Where are the skilled workers? Who will we hire? Will investors come to a state where the young are dying of addiction?”
He pointed to Punjab’s historic role in India’s armed forces and how even that had declined sharply. “For the first time in history, the Sikh Regiment had to write to the Defence Ministry, saying that they were no longer able to find boys from Punjab. That is how deep the crisis had become.”
Arvind Kejriwal then shared a chilling story from a village that had once been gripped by drug abuse. “In one such village, we held a nukkad meeting. People cried, saying how their sons had died. One mother said her son took money out of his dead father’s pocket to buy heroin. Can you imagine the darkness we inherited?”
He noted previous governments of not just negligence but deliberate sabotage. “From 2007–08 onwards, drugs were pumped into every village and every home. Ministers’ cars were used to transport drugs. International smugglers were housed in ministers’ homes. There was a sinister plan to destroy Punjab.”
However, Arvind Kejriwal asserted that under the AAP government, Punjab’s war against drugs is being fought like never before. “We started with public complaints. We received thousands of tips and converted them into FIRs. In 3,500 villages, where people used to be afraid to speak, now they report drug dealers to the police. Over 3,500 FIRs have been registered based on citizen feedback alone. We’ve bulldozed drug lords’ homes and properties. In one case, we demolished a mansion with bulldozers and planted wheat in its place. In another, a sitting MLA has been arrested. The people of Punjab are no longer scared because the government stands with them.”
The same seriousness, Arvind Kejriwal said, is being applied to fixing Punjab’s crumbling education and health systems. “After World War II, countries like Japan and Germany rebuilt themselves by first fixing their education and health. But we ignored these two areas for 75 years. We’re correcting that mistake now. In Delhi, we transformed government schools and hospitals. We’ve begun that same work in Punjab.”
He didn’t mince words about the infrastructure collapse his government had to confront. “Punjab has 166 cities and towns. All of them were in shambles. Roads broken, garbage piled up, no cleaning systems. In villages, the situation was even worse. Most roads were unpaved, sewerage was absent, and electricity was unreliable. And on top of this, the state treasury was empty.”
Arvind Kejriwal spoke about the restoration of public services with a focus on transparency and delivery. “Earlier, it took people 12 years to get a simple land mutation done. Today, it takes 20 minutes. Earlier, you needed bribes, contacts, and middlemen to get your property registry done. Today, no bribes, no touts—just walk in and walk out with your papers.”
On urban renewal, he stated: “All 166 cities in Punjab are being cleaned. We’ve launched a mission to sweep every road mechanically, wash them once a week, and ensure regular garbage collection. These are not pilot projects. This will become the new normal.”
Turning to rural development, the AAP Supremo noted that more than 20,000 km of village roads are being rebuilt. “Punjab’s agricultural land under irrigation was just 21% in 2022. Today it’s 63%. That’s what focused governance can achieve even with limited resources.”
Arvind Kejriwal was unequivocal about the change in how industry is now welcomed in Punjab. “Earlier, you needed political contacts to set up a business. Now, you don’t need to go to any office or meet any officer. Apply online, and if your application isn’t processed in 45 days, it will be auto-approved. That’s how seriously we take your time and your investment.”
Taking this vision a step further, Arvind Kejriwal announced that 24 industrial sectors will each have a committee of top industry leaders who will draft Punjab’s policy for their respective sectors. “By October 2, we want your policy. You know your sector better than anyone. We will approve your policies in the Cabinet and give you the powers to implement them. This is your government.”
He ended with a heartfelt appeal. “We are not just asking for your investment—we are asking for your soul. Come, build Punjab with us. Be part of this renaissance. You are not outsiders. You are stakeholders. We are not here to take credit. If you write the policy, you should also inaugurate the projects. This is not politics. This is Punjab’s future we are building together.”
Reinforcing the transformative nature of the AAP government’s mission in Punjab, Arvind Kejriwal concluded, “We inherited a broken, betrayed, and bankrupt Punjab. But in three years, we’ve shown what honest, determined governance can do. With your partnership, we can build a Rangla Punjab where our youth have dignity, our villages have prosperity, our cities have pride, and our state has purpose.”
Industrialists are partners in Punjab’s resurgence; ₹1.14 lakh crore investment inflow under AAP rule: Bhagwant Mann
Addressing the conclave, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann commended the industrialists present for their hard work, resilience, and dedication. He emphasized the importance of their feedback in steering Punjab onto a high-growth economic path. Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the Punjab government is fully committed to resolving every challenge faced by the industrial sector through dialogue and constructive feedback.
The Punjab Chief Minister noted that past governments had driven industries away with their regressive policies, creating unnecessary hurdles instead of facilitating growth. He credited Arvind Kejriwal with bringing crucial sectors such as healthcare, education, power, water, and infrastructure into the national spotlight. “These five sectors are our top priorities, and we are leaving no stone unturned in strengthening them,” he said.
Bhagwant Mann also contrasted AAP’s development-focused politics with the divisive agenda of previous regimes. Bhagwant Singh Mann accused former governments of extorting money from industrialists and threatening their businesses. “Today, Punjab has a people-elected government that works sincerely for the growth and prosperity of industry,” he asserted.
Welcoming the captains of industry, the Punjab CM highlighted Punjab’s leadership in sectors such as food processing, textiles, auto components, hand tools, bicycle manufacturing, IT, and tourism. He proudly announced that since March 2022, the state has received investment proposals worth ₹1.14 lakh crore, resulting in the creation of over 4.5 lakh job opportunities. Bhagwant Singh Mann added that major companies like Tata Steel and Sanatan Textiles are now lining up to invest in the state.
AAP’s vision of honest governance, Education & Industry synergy will script a new future for Punjab: Manish Sisodia
Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia said, “It is heartening to see this rare combination. Some of the best business minds are gathered here, brainstorming on what kind of Punjab we want to build. What’s most encouraging is that everyone is not just present, but bringing their own stake and responsibility to the table.”
AAP’s Punjab Prabhari argued that any nation that has progressed—be it Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, or the United States—has seen the confluence of three forces: government, industry, and education. “Wherever these three forces align, progress is inevitable. Remove one, and either you’re left with politics or business—but not development,” he said.
Manish Sisodia welcomed this coming together of stakeholders and underscored the unique commitment of AAP governments in both Delhi and Punjab. “This is not just a photo-op; it’s a real blend—government, education, and industry—all working toward a common vision. And I’m confident that this synergy will yield transformative results for both Punjab and the country.”
Manish Sisodia asserted, “AAP was born out of this very idea—that real progress comes from focusing on areas that have historically been neglected: education, healthcare, ease of doing business, and visionary, honest politics.”
He drew a stark contrast with traditional political culture. “Elsewhere, when someone becomes a minister, the first people who surround them are brokers—those involved in transfer-posting mafias and sale-purchase dealings. But when an AAP minister takes charge, the people you’ll see around them are like Seema Bansal or Jasmine—professionals and honest workers. That’s the big difference.”
Manish Sisodia detailed how the AAP government in Delhi transformed governance by eliminating redundant paperwork. “In 2015, when we came to power in Delhi, we found that for almost everything—licenses, upgrades—you needed affidavits. CM Arvind Kejriwal asked why. An officer was assigned to count them. He found nearly 200 types of affidavits, of which 152 were utterly useless. They were conventions from 20-40 years ago, with no legal mandate. Kejriwal ordered them scrapped immediately.”
He further highlighted a milestone tax reform: “Industry representatives told us—lower the tax, and compliance will increase. Despite resistance from conventional bureaucratic thinking, Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister had the courage to act. On 42 items, the VAT rate was cut from 12–14% down to 5%. When we took office, Delhi’s budget was ₹30,000 crore. In just five years, that rose to ₹60,000 crore—proof that honest, pro-growth governance works.”
Manish Sisodia reiterated that AAP’s approach has always been to create a governance model that reflects the needs of all stakeholders, especially industry and citizens. “AAP’s focus has consistently been on delivering sincere governance. We work not just for headlines but for genuine systemic transformation.”
He re-emphasised education as the foundation of any economic progress: “Without strong education, neither good jobs can be created, nor can industries find competent workers. You spoke about labour, but we also need a competent executive class, strong management, professionals—and they only come from robust education systems.”
Concluding his remarks, Manish Sisodia praised the Punjab Government’s sincere efforts in tackling these issues and expressed confidence in the positive outcomes that would arise from the day’s deliberations: “From everything I’ve seen, the Punjab Government is working with deep sincerity on these fronts. I’m sure today’s discussion will also yield many ideas that take Punjab forward.”
