Chandigarh, November 30, 2019 (Yes Punjab Nwws)
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Mr. Sunil Jakhar has reminded the Akali Dal leader and former state Finance Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa that ten-year long mis-rule of the SAD–BJP alliance was squarely responsible for present economic problems of the state.
Describing it “biggest treachery” of SAD-BJP combine, he said that the alliance government had accepted debt of 31,000 crore on food grain purchase account days before leaving the office in 2017.
Taking a strong stand against the former Finance Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa for his unwarranted, highly contradictory remarks against the interests of Punjab, the PPCC chief said that the Akali leaders were speaking against their own state for petty political gains. “How can anyone deny the role of the previous government for the current economic condition of Punjab?
The previous government made an unethical decision at the fag-end of the office to accept Rs. 31,000 crore debts to Punjab for the difference in account of grain procurement which caused an irreparable loss to Punjab. What forced them to make such a fatal decision few days before assembly polls in 2017,” he asked.
He said that Punjab serves as major food bowl for the government of India. Then why did the Akali Dal accept the expenditure on grain procurement accounts as a debt for state? He asked the Akali leaders to make their stand clear on the big fraud committed by their govt on this issue.
Congress leader said that had the previous govt not accepted a debt of Rs 31,000 crore, our present economic condition would have been better.
In fact the Akali Dal had come to know that they were to be thrown out of power due to the blot on their face following unfortunate sacrilege incidents, they stabbed in the back of fiscal economy by accepting debt of Rs 31,000 crores, just to sow seeds of poor fiscal health for the upcoming Congress government.
PPCC president said that in 2007, when the SAD-BJP alliance assumed the office, Punjab’s total debt was only Rs 46,000 crore and due to the wrong economic policies and poor financial management, the state loan load touched mark of Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 10 years. The state government’s earning was spent just to pay interest on debt.
Likewise, Mr Jakhar asked what was wrong in demanding our share in GST collections from the Center. It would have been better had the Akali leaders, who were allies in the NDA govt, used their leverage to get GST arrears issued to Punjab. “By skipping from moral responsibility of advocating the rights of the state, they were betraying their own people for petty political interests.
The Akali Dal was responsible for pushing the state into the worst phase of the economy, he added. Mr. Jakhar said that Chief Minister Capt Amarinder‘s government had implemented schemes for all sections of the society which included debt waiver for farmers through better economic management.
He said that the state government had enhanced the health insurance scheme to 46 lakh families against the GoI target of only 14.5 lakh with its own resources. He reiterated that the Congress party was committed to safeguard the interests of the state and it was being pursued in letter and spirit.
