Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab disappointed every section of the state as he chose to indulge in politics instead of announcing the release of Punjab’s legitimate pending financial dues. The Finance Minister said the people of Punjab had expected the Prime Minister to clear the state’s pending dues, but he remained silent on the issue while making political remarks.
The Finance Minister said the AAP Government has fulfilled all five guarantees given to the people within four-and-a-half years, unlike the BJP-Akali government, which ruined Punjab during its ten-year rule. Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also said the previous BJP-Akali government allowed chitta (drugs) and beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, whereas the Bhagwant Mann Government launched Yudh Nashean Virudh and enacted the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act to ensure that none can even think of doing so.
Addressing the media, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The people of Punjab had high expectations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. Punjab expected that its legitimate pending dues would be released. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Punjab only to indulge in politics. He did not utter a single word about Punjab’s pending dues.”
Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the people of Punjab had expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release the state’s pending dues during his visit.
He said, “After last year’s floods, the Punjab Government sought ₹20,000 crore from the Centre. PM Modi announced ₹1,600 crore, but not a single rupee out of that announcement has reached Punjab’s treasury. Punjab’s Rural Development Fund (RDF) dues have been withheld. Punjab’s mandi fee dues have also been withheld because the BJP had brought the three black farm laws and Punjab’s farmers played a leading role in opposing those laws. Today, the BJP is taking revenge on Punjab’s farmers and traders.”
Referring to capital investment, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema pointed out, “PM Modi claimed that Punjab has not witnessed development. During the Akali Dal-BJP government, around ₹12,000 crore was spent on capital investment in five years. During the Congress government from 2017 to 2022, the figure was around ₹19,000 crore. Since the Aam Aadmi Party formed the government under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, capital investment of around ₹55,000 crore is being made in schools, hospitals, roads, playgrounds and other basic infrastructure.”