Manpreet: It will be people-friendly

FEROZEPUR: Claiming that the Budget will be people-friendly notwithstanding the economic “distress” that Punjab has landed itself into due to “erroneous policies” of the previous SAD-BJP government, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal on Friday said the Budget would be beneficial for people from all walks of life.

Manpreet Badal honours Dr Bharti Dutt Bagchi, daughter of freedom fighter Batukeshwar Dutt, at Hussainiwala in Ferozepur. Tribune photo

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, March 23

Claiming that the Budget will be people-friendly notwithstanding the economic “distress” that Punjab has landed itself into due to “erroneous policies” of the previous SAD-BJP government, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal on Friday said the Budget would be beneficial for people from all walks of life. He said it would also reflect the vision of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government to put the state on the path of growth and development.

“We will take care of aspirations of all, including border farmers, labourers, poor and needy, traders and employees,” said Manpreet, while paying tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on “Shaheedi Diwas” during a state-level function at National Martyrs Memorial Hussainiwala.

Manpreet said the state government had been trying hard to realise the dreams of the martyrs, adding that efforts had been made to eradicate the drug menace, illiteracy, corruption and unemployment from the state during the past 12 months.

The Finance Minister accepted all demands raised by local MLA Parminder Singh Pinki, which included Rs 1 crore for setting up CCTV cameras in the border area, Rs 50 lakh for city park, Rs 25 lakh for gym in the police lines and Rs 20 lakh for ambulance. Manpreet said the state government would soon release funds for the development of martyrs’ memorial.

Earlier, the minister was shown black flags by employees of the Bhatinda thermal plant on his arrival to the border town.