Not going back on promises, give three months: Manpreet

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Talwandi Sabo, April 13

Finance Minister Manpreet Badal today asked the people to have faith in the government and give three more months for fulfilling its promise of farm debt waiver and eradication of drugs menace.

Addressing the Congress’ political conference here today, Manpreet said the government was working on a roadmap to revive the state’s economy and finding a solution to the crippling problem of farm debt.

The state is in a deep economic crisis as it has been plundered ruthlessly during the 10-year regime of the SAD-BJP. “I am telling you about this harsh reality without any exaggeration under the solemn oath standing close to the Takht Damdama Sahib,” he said.

After three months, the debt-ridden farmers in Punjab would get a better deal than what the farmers in Uttar Pradesh have got, he said. The UP Government has announced to waive Rs 1 lakh loan of all farmers in the state.

Lal Singh, former Finance Minister, said the Akali-BJP government had left the state under a mammoth debt of Rs 1.85 lakh crore. At the end of the Congress’ previous tenure in February 2007, the state’s debt was Rs 51,155 crore, he said.

On the drugs menace, Manpreet said the STF was working overtime, but since this scourge had deep roots in the state, it needed more time to wipe it out completely. 

He said the government would soon pass a strong and effective Lokpal Bill with a view to bringing more transparency and accountability in governance. Even the Chief Minister and his team would also fall under its ambit.

Hoping for an out-of-court settlement on the SYL issue, Manpreet said Punjab’s case was not represented appropriately in the apex court. “With the intervention of the Prime Minister, we are hopeful of an amicable settlement of the matter,” he said.

Manpreet said a large number of public assets were mortgaged with banks and other financial institutions and for the next several years, the entire income of the state would not be sufficient enough to repay those debts. 

Advocating subsidised power supply to the industry, he said the Chief Minister was working to propel the economy of the state by inviting major industrial houses to set up their ventures in Punjab. In three days, the CM had met representatives of 27 business houses in Mumbai to evince their interests to be a part of the state’s economy, Manpreet added.