CHANDIGARH-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.”
The Finance Minister said, “PM Modi spoke about the BJP’s double-engine government. The BJP came to power after seeking votes in the name of Ram Mandir. Today, the BJP has stolen from Ram Mandir itself. Devotees visited the temple with faith and offered donations and valuable offerings, but hundreds of crores of rupees collected in ‘chanda’(donations) have been stolen in Uttar Pradesh. PM Modi comes to Punjab and talks about corruption, but the entire country knows that the BJP has started stealing money from temples and religious places.”
He said, “After decades, Punjab got its own son, an ordinary man, Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann, as Chief Minister. Before forming the government, our National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Singh Mann had given five guarantees to the people of Punjab. Today, the AAP has become the first party in Punjab’s political history to fulfil all five guarantees within four-and-a-half years.”
He added, “Out of frustration over these achievements, PM Modi made false, baseless and fabricated allegations against us. The people of Punjab know that for the last four-and-a-half years, this government has been providing 300 units of free electricity every month. Punjab has taken revolutionary steps in education. We have sent our teachers for training to Singapore, Finland and IITs. Today, students from government schools are securing admissions in premier institutions.”
Minister Harpal Singh Cheema further said, “Punjab has implemented the Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojna providing health insurance cover of up to ₹10 lakh. Punjab has become the first state in the country where the families of soldiers who sacrificed their lives while protecting the country from the armed forces and Punjab Police are given an honour amount of ₹1 crore. We have also implemented the Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojna under which Dalit women receive ₹1, 500 per month and women from other categories receive ₹1, 000 per month.”
Drawing a comparison with the previous governments, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema noted, “PM Modi spoke about a double-engine government. Punjab had a double-engine government from 2007 to 2017 when the BJP was an equal partner in the Akali Dal government. During those ten years, the BJP-Akali government left no stone unturned in ruining Punjab.”
He said, “It was during the BJP-Akali government that the period of beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib began in Punjab. Our government has brought the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act to prevent such incidents. They committed beadbi, while we have brought a law to stop beadbi. They spread drugs, whereas our government has launched Yudh Nashean Virudh across Punjab.”
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.”
He added, “The entire Punjab expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring Punjab’s pending dues, but that did not happen. On one hand, Punjab’s legitimate dues are being withheld, while on the other hand, the government led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann is continuously working for the development of Punjab.”
Continuing to list the achievements of the Bhagwant Mann Government, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “Three hundred units of free electricity have been continuing uninterrupted for the last four-and-a-half years. More than 68, 000 government jobs have been provided to Punjab’s youth purely on merit. Around 45, 000 kilometres of roads are being constructed or upgraded across the state. Three thousand playgrounds have already been completed in villages, and another 6, 000 playgrounds are being developed. The GVK thermal plant has been purchased and made the property of Punjab and its people.”
He further said, “For the first time in Punjab’s history, and perhaps in the country’s history, reservation has been provided for government lawyers in the High Court. Under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is ensuring canal water reaches the last field of every farmer.”
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.”
Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “PM Modi came to Jalandhar and visited Punjab, but ultimately he disappointed every section of Punjab.”
Replying to a question, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Every single rupee spent by the Punjab Government is spent on the welfare of the people. A substantial amount of Punjab’s money has been withheld by PM Modi’s government. Our Chief Minister has met the Union Home Minister several times. We have also met the Union Finance Minister, and I have personally raised this issue on several occasions. In every meeting, we have demanded the release of Punjab’s legitimate RDF dues, but till date the BJP-led Central Government has not acted on our demand.”