Chandigarh, June 28
The Opposition parties today picked holes in the maiden Budget presented by the Aam Aadmi Party government yesterday, saying it was “directionless” and had nothing for the common man. They also said the figures of projected increase in revenue receipts were not attainable.
The ruling party MLAs, however, defended the Budget proposals saying it had something for each section of the society. They also said the Budget was visionary, with a focus on the most neglected sectors by previous governments such as education, health and revival of economy that would lead to job creation.
Starting the debate on the Budget, PCC chief and MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said none of the suggestions given by people for the Budget seemed to have been included. “You have brought some good schemes like ‘Farishtey’ to help road accident victims. But all your figures for increasing revenue are on the higher side and cannot be achieved. Even the announcement for creation of Tax Intelligence Unit has made traders and industrialists wary, and they fear harassment. In excise, your focus is on increasing sale of liquor, which will lead to social problems,” he said.
Interestingly, the revenue that the state is hoping to yield by stopping illegal mining was also part of the discussion, especially among MLAs who represent constituencies of Pathankot district.
While Congress MLA Aruna Chaudhary alleged illegal mining was rampant now and the Congress had stopped it, minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said several villages in his constituency of Bhoa had suffered because of rampant illegal mining in the past five years. “The ecology of these villages has been ruined beyond repair. I thank Harjot Bains for putting an end to this illegal mining there,” he said. Congress MLA Pargat Singh said the eight per cent increase in capital expenditure shown in the Budget was a farce, as the increase was a result of only rise in inflation. “Even your Excise Policy, which has been challenged in court, has failed to enthuse contractors and one-third of vends have not been auctioned off,” he said.
Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal of the Congress mocked the Treasury benches for not making provisions in the Budget for Rs 1,000 per month to women, saying women of Punjab felt cheated. Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi of the SAD lamented certain abusive words were used by MLA Chabbewal against AAP’s Aman Arora and the latter had retorted in a similar manner. He also took on the Treasury benches for repeatedly saying nothing was achieved in the past 70 years, questioning how the public infrastructure was raised, if not by the previous governments. He found support from both Congress MLAs and the BJP legislator on the issue.
Since Finance Minister Harpal Cheema had to leave the House because of the GST Council meet here today, it was largely left to Aman Arora and Education Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer to defend the Budget. Both countered the Opposition arguments quoting facts and figures.
Projected increase in revenue receipts unattainable: Punjab Opposition
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