Debt biggest issue facing state: Manpreet
Tuesday, 16/04/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130416/punjab.htm#1
People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) chief Manpreet Badal today said the overall debt of the state was likely to touch Rs 1,00,000 crore by the year-end. Manpreet said successive state governments, led by the SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress, were to blame for pushing the state to the brink of financial collapse.
The PPP chief was addressing party leaders, activists and experts from various sectors on the opening day of the PPP’s ‘chintan shivir’ here.
“More worrisome is the fact that the coalition government appears least concerned about the issue. The Akali Dal’s recent extravagant Goa 'Chintan Shivir' even failed to raise it. As such, the beach conclave only benefited the hoteliers,” he said.
About the panchayat poll, the PPP chief alleged there was every possibility that the ruling regime would not allow a free and fair electoral process. “It is sad that just 300 strong political families are ruling the entire state having a population of three crore. The policies are only framed for the rich whereas the poor are left to fend for themselves,” he said.
Manpreet said on the first day of the two-day conference, the PPP leaders had identified 10 key areas of concern for the state and the issue of debt was regarded by all participants as one of paramount importance.
The “deteriorating” law and order and “rising corruption” were identified as the other problems that needed to be redressed with utmost urgency. “The safety and honour of women in Punjab has come under attack during the SAD-BJP rule. Anti-social elements associated with the Akali Dal have been prime accused in most criminal cases. When they haven’t even spared policemen, how can the common man feel secure,” he questioned.
After Congress, PPP woos Navjot Sidhu
Two days after senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said BJP’s Amritsar MP Navjot Sidhu was “a right man in a wrong party” and that he should join them (the Congress), Manpreet Badal too made a similar statement. On the recent controversy over Sidhu being “sidelined” in the BJP, Manpreet said, “He (Sidhu) is an intelligent and good politician and his right place was in the PPP.”
A scam in purchase of power from pvt firms?
The PPP chief alleged that the state government was indulging in gross irregularities while purchasing power. “Power is purchased at a rate much higher than the actual cost. This summer, Rs 7,000 crore will be spent on buying power from private producers. But in reality, 50 per cent of the money will be paid back by the producers to the ruling party. Eventually, this money will be used to buy votes.”
‘Transport policy has benefited Sukhbir most’
Hitting out at Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, Manpreet Badal alleged that after the announcement of the transport policy for Punjab, the fleet of Orbit buses (owned by Sukhbir) had gone up from four to 200. "Likewise, the cable, sand and land mafia are working at the behest of SAD-BJP government and plundering the state's wealth," Manpreet said.
