“No one has made sacrifices for Punjab as Bhagwant Mann has.”
This is what Delhi Chief Minister and National Convener of the Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal has said about Bhagwant Mann. Bhagwant Mann has headed the Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab unit and was projected as the party’s face during the 2017 assembly elections. Mann is also the Member of Parliament from Sangrur.
But what is this massive sacrifice that Bhagwant Mann has made for Punjab, a sacrifice that has impressed the Delhi Chief Minister so much? At a rally in Barnala where it was announced that the Aam Aadmi Party would contest all the 13 constituencies in Punjab, Mann announced that he had taken a vow in front of his mother not to consume alcohol ever again.
Yes, this was the big sacrifice that Bhagwant Mann made for the people of Punjab, and which Arvind Kejriwal has generously praised. Arvind Kejriwal must be lauded for his foresight. He chose an alleged alcoholic and groomed him into a leader many years ago because he knew a day would come when the man would make a great sacrifice for Punjab and give up alcohol. Once again, full points to Sirjee! This is the real masterstroke.
Mann is known for his drinking habit. It is so well-known that even Prime Minister Modi mentioned it in a speech on the floor of parliament. It is so well-known that there was speculation about Mann having announced such a vow on stage because he had had too many drinks before the rally in which he made the announcement.
Is this true?
Bhagwant Mann was so drunk at AAP rally yesterday that he took the stage and announced that he would never drink again?
😂😂😂
— Abhishek (@AbhishBanerj) January 21, 2019
The people of Sangrur though were a little disappointed. A resident told us, “He could have given it up earlier, but he chose to give it when his term has almost finished. Nobody likes to have an alcoholic Member of Parliament. This is too little too late.” When asked about this, sources in the AAP responded by saying it was better late than never.
This great sacrifice of quitting alcohol has impressed the Chief Minister of Delhi in a big way. Sources have told us that many other sacrifices are in the offing from Delhi. A senior Delhi politician and former minister is likely to announce that he will stop beating up his wife and conducting midnight raids. If this is indeed true, it will be a huge sacrifice for the people of Delhi. Another senior Delhi politician is likely to announce that he will facilitate the issuing of ration cards for his constituents without seeking anything in return. This is being touted as a game-changing sacrifice for the people of Delhi.
The Aam Aadmi Party and sacrifices go back a long way. In fact, Aam Aadmi Party is a party of sacrifices. Individuals who were tired of the status quo in India sacrificed their lives and their lucrative careers and came together to provide clean governance to the country. This party is an example of how far sacrifices can go to have a positive impact, as it shares the stage with the likes of Sharad Pawar, Tejaswi Yadav, and Mamata Banerjee.
What the country now awaits are sacrifices from Samosa consumption and the consumption of other spirits from five-star hotel rooms in Bengaluru.