Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership, accusing the Badal family of having “ruined the state politically, economically, and religiously” during their tenure from 2007 to 2017.

Addressing a gathering, Mann alleged that the Akali regime fostered mafias in transport, cable, sand, and drugs, and prioritised business interests over public welfare. He challenged SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal to name a single achievement of that period, claiming that the drug menace spread under their patronage.

The CM also criticised leaders from other parties — including Congress’s Charanjit Singh Channi, Partap Singh Bajwa, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, BJP’s Captain Amarinder Singh, and Ravneet Singh Bittu — for publicly supporting a former Akali minister currently in Nabha Jail on drug charges. He accused traditional parties of colluding to shield each other’s misdeeds when in power.

Mann further alleged that the Badals “plundered religious funds” and mocked Sukhbir Badal for lacking understanding of Punjab’s culture and language. He said the once-sacrificial legacy of the Akali Dal had been reduced to a party “of drug smugglers,” while Congress remained divided by leadership ambitions.

Reaffirming his commitment to governance, Mann said he may lack experience in “plundering public wealth” but has “expertise in sharing the public’s sorrows” and pledged to continue working for the state’s prosperity despite political attacks.

Earlier in Sangrur, the CM dedicated the upgraded **Jathedar Kartar Singh Darvesh Senior Secondary School** as a *School of Eminence* at a cost of ₹3.40 crore. The transformation includes a renovated auditorium, entrance gate, stage, park, laboratories, classrooms, and modern facilities for students and teachers.

Mann also inaugurated the **Government Nursing Training School** in Sangrur, built at a cost of ₹7.81 crore, offering a three-year General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course with hostel accommodation, smart classrooms, laboratories, a library, and transport services.

In a major public health initiative, the CM flagged off 12 **mobile cancer screening buses** in partnership with World Cancer Care. The buses will provide free screenings for breast, cervical, prostate, and oral cancers, along with other diagnostics, across Punjab’s villages and towns. The campaign commemorates the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji and builds on 350 prior free cancer awareness camps organised by the NGO.

Calling it a “historic day,” Mann said the initiative will take cancer diagnosis and treatment “to the doorstep of the common man,” particularly benefiting residents of the Malwa region, which has long faced high cancer rates.