The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab on Wednesday distributed appointment letters to 916 youths from various departments, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterating that his government has so far provided 63,943 government jobs purely on merit, without bribery or favouritism.

Addressing the gathering at Vikas Bhawan in Mohali, Mann said the recruitment drive under the flagship ‘Mission Rozgar’ marked a decisive break from past practices, where government jobs were allegedly cornered through money power and political connections. He asserted that the process would continue in the coming days to fill remaining vacancies across departments.

“Earlier, government jobs were decided by recommendation and bribes. Today, when people pressed the ‘jhaadu’ button, everyone began to receive their rightful due,” the Chief Minister said, adding that not a single appointment made by his government had been challenged in court so far.

Sharing details of the event on social media platform X, Mann said that appointment letters were handed over to candidates selected strictly on merit and urged them to serve the people of Punjab with honesty and dedication. He maintained that transparency in recruitment was a core commitment of his government since assuming office.

Reflecting on the past, the Chief Minister said that for decades the aspirations of Punjab’s youth were crushed as opportunities were monopolised by those close to power. Calling it a “moral failure” of previous regimes, he said the dreams of freedom fighters like Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh remained unfulfilled even decades after Independence due to systemic corruption.

Mann said his government was focused on correcting those distortions by opening the doors of public employment to deserving candidates. He described the day as a “red-letter moment” for the newly appointed youths and claimed that Punjab had crossed the milestone of over 63,000 government jobs in just four years.

Alongside employment, the Chief Minister highlighted welfare initiatives of his government, including the ‘Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojna’, which now provides cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family. He said the enhanced health cover would benefit around 65 lakh families and ensure that lack of money does not become a barrier to healthcare.

He also pointed to the closure of toll plazas across the state, claiming savings of ₹64 lakh per day for commuters, the opening of 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics for free treatment and medicines, and free electricity to nearly 90 per cent of households. Mann criticised the opposition for focusing only on alleged shortcomings while ignoring these measures.

Calling unemployment the root cause of many social problems, the Chief Minister said his government was prioritising job creation, health, education, power supply, infrastructure and law and order to ensure holistic development of the state.

Several newly appointed candidates shared their experiences at the event, crediting the government for conducting a transparent recruitment process. Beneficiaries said they secured their positions without any recommendation or bribe, describing the appointments as a rare and long-awaited opportunity.

Cabinet Ministers Dr Balbir Singh, Gurmeet Singh Khudian and other senior officials were present on the occasion.