Speaking to The New Indian during his campaign trail in assembly constituency, Channi said, “Before first 100 days, I will make sure that one lakh youth get employment. In fact, I will put my signature on the the file clearing jobs to one lakh youth on the very first day itself. We will also provide interest free loans to the youth to start their own business. This is my primary aim. My main focus remains youth in the state.”
He was responding to a question on what his government wants to do in the state in first 100 days if voted to power.
Channi was declared as the party’s chief ministerial candidate on Sunday by former party chief Rahul Gandhi in Ludhiana.
While announcing his name, Rahul Gandhi said, “The people of Punjab want gareeb ghar ka CM, so Channi is our party’s chief ministerial candidate.”
When asked about the three repealed farm laws, on which hundreds of farmers from Punjab have protested at the borders of Delhi will have any impact in elections here, he said, “The issues of farmers have been resolved and the concerns have been settled. So it will not have an impact here.”
Hundreds of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh had staged a protest near the borders of Delhi for over an year demanding repealing of the three farm laws.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the repealing of the three farm laws in November last year ahead of Winter Session of Parliament.
The three laws were repealed during the Winter Session of Parliament.
Over 700 farmers had died during the year long protest.
The ruling Congress is eyeing a second consecutive term in the state while the Siromani Akali Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP and the Captain Amarinder Singh’s Punjab Lok Congress is also looking to make a dent in the grand old party’s vote share to gain power in the 117 member assembly.
Polling is scheduled on February 20 in Punjab and counting of votes will take place on March 10.