Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar Praises Union Budget, Slams AAP and Congress
In a press conference held in Chandigarh on Monday, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar described the Union Budget as inspired by the egalitarian philosophy of Guru Ravidas. He emphasized that this budget serves as a concrete step and a strong foundation towards building a developed India. Jakhar strongly criticized the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Congress in Punjab, stating that both parties are lacking understanding of economics and have failed to grasp the true spirit of the budget.
Budget Benefits for Punjab Cities and Development Acceleration
Jakhar highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself pointed out that several cities in Punjab would benefit significantly from this budget. He mentioned that Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Moga, and Ferozepur are among the cities set to gain from the budgetary allocations, which will accelerate their development. Jakhar accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of making factually incorrect claims by asserting that Punjab received nothing from the budget.
Allegations Against Punjab Government's Pre-Budget Approach
Further elaborating on his criticism, Jakhar revealed that even before the budget was presented, during a meeting chaired by the Union Finance Minister, Punjab's Finance Minister did not present any proposals or development demands. Instead, the state's representative only requested an increase in Punjab's borrowing limit. Jakhar alleged that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, out of fear of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, avoided meeting the Prime Minister during his visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar on February 1.
Specific Budget Proposals and Allocations for Punjab
Speaking about the budget proposals, Jakhar clarified that Punjab would receive funds for crop diversification or high-value crops only if the state government submits appropriate plans. He added that the Government of India has allocated a substantial budget for fisheries, animal husbandry, and fertiliser subsidies. The Centre is providing Rs 1.70 lakh crore as fertiliser subsidy, of which Punjab receives a significant share due to its high fertiliser consumption. Similarly, a large portion of the budget allocated for government procurement of food grains reaches the pockets of Punjab's farmers, according to Jakhar.
Comments on Dera Beas Chief's Remarks and Government Credibility
On the remarks made by Dera Beas chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon, who stated that cases against Majithia were all false, Jakhar responded by saying, This decision will be taken by the court. However, he criticized the government by noting that it took back all the cases it registered, asserting that their credibility is finished.
