New Punjab CM Channi's first move, waives farmers' water and power bills

In a big announcement right after taking oath, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday announced that pending power and water bills of farmers will be written off. He also promised that power connections that were cut due to non-payment of bills will be restored.

"Power will continue to be free in Punjab. Water will also be free," he promised.

Stating that his govt will stand with the farmers, Channi at his first press conference asked the Centre to withdraw the contentious farm bills that farmers have been protesting against for a year.

Channi also got emotional at the press conference as he thanked the Congress and Rahul Gandhi for making him CM. "Today, the Congress party has respected a poor man," he said. Channi is the first Dalit CM of Punjab.

Also Read: First Dalit CM of Punjab: Who is Charanjit Singh Channi?

Channi also praised Captain Amarinder Singh, who had to resign following a revolt from MLAs. He called Captain's contribution to Punjab "unparalleled".