Centre’s rebuff on financial package shame for Punjab: Manpreet Badal

Saturday, 30/05/2015

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JALANDHAR: Terming the denial of special financial package to Punjab by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre as the “biggest embarrassment” to the state government and the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) president Manpreet Singh Badal on Thursday said chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal are “responsible for this shame”.

People’s Party of Punjab president Manpreet Singh Badal addressing mediapersons in Jalandhar on Friday.

The PPP chief was in the city to chair the party’s central committee meeting.

“More than anybody else, I would hold Sukhbir responsible for this as he is not able to understand the real financial position of Punjab. With debt in hand, he was busy selling dreams like “making Punjab California” and “Amritsar the best city in the world,” he said.

“Refusal of package is a complete failure of the Sukhbir style of economics. It compels me to conclude that even a rehri vendor who sells banana knows more economics than the deputy CM,” said Manpreet.

He said a banana seller knows what he would sell and what profit he is going to make by the evening.

“But Sukhbir does not study anything and only overspends and wastes without any calculation,” alleged Manpreet. The former finance minister said the Punjab government failed to plead its case with the Centre in a proper manner.

“The state completely failed to heed the Centre’s repeated suggestions to control its overspending and this was the major reason why Punjab’s right to get special financial package has been denied by the central government,” opined Manpreet.

“Up to the 13th Finance Commission during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Punjab along with West Bengal and Kerala was very much there as a deserving state to get the special financial package but during the period of 14th finance commission, Punjab’s claim was rejected,” Manpreet who termed the outcome of denying package by the Centre as a slap on the face of the alliance government in Punjab.

The PPP chief accused the CM and the deputy CM for hatching a conspiracy to sell the rights of Punjab for minting money to secure their personal interests. “Entire Punjab is debt-ridden but Sukhbir and Harsimrat’s assets are growing. Why don’t they apply the same business model for Punjab? What they do when it comes to their own businesses?” questioned Manpreet.

He challenged the CM and his deputy to come out with candid opinion on the views expressed by Union minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha here on Tuesday that Punjab was on the path of prosperity and hence there was no need for package.

The PPP’s central committee adopted a resolution criticising the alleged failure of the state government to bring any package for Punjab. The committee decided to launch a special campaign to expand its base by reaching out to more people in the state.