Nothing for us in this Budget: Jalandhar industrialists

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 27

Recently, a series of meetings by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema with traders and manufacturers in Jalandhar had garnered several praises from everyone in the industry. This came as a ‘breath of fresh air’ for the unit owners, who said earlier the ministers would call on them only before the elections. The minister had sought their ‘suggestions’ ahead of the Budget so that it could be incorporated in it. Today, after the AAP government presented its first Budget, all those praises and expectations from AAP turned into biggest disappointment for them (industrialists).

Kuch vi nai hai. Eh vi odda de hi nikle, this is how the unit owners expressed their resentment.

Gursharan Singh, president, Jalandhar Industrial and Traders’ Association, said: “There was not even a single word on how the state industry would flourish. Whatever announcements the government had made till now just focus on to gather vote bank. I would say that there is nothing for the industry. Why did they not mention the formation of new Focal Points, which is the need of the hour,” he said.

When asked Charanjit Singh Maingi, general secretary, Jalandhar Chamber of Industries and Commerce, that what he felt about the Budget, he replied: “No comments”. A dismayed Maingi later said all meetings were just an eyewash. “It was just to show people that they were working hard and seeking suggestions and asking for their ideas. Announcement like formation of Vyapari Commission happened earlier too, but all in vain,” he said.

Tajinder Bhasin, another industrialist, also corroborated the statement and added that there was nothing in the Budget. “Rs 100 crore for Focal Points in the state is nothing. There will be no benefit to the industry,” he said.

Notably, several industrialists had taken part in the meeting and apart from giving suggestions, they had also raised their long-pending issues, which the minister had noted on the spot. But those points never found any mention in the Budget, the industrialists said.

“nhone croro ke ishtehar diye they har jagah ki budget aap log banaaoge. Humne sujhaav bheje bhi they, lekin kuch nahee hua (There were so many ads worth crores everywhere wherein they had said that it was people’s budget and suggestions were also invited, we had sent ours too. But what happened? Nothing),” Ravinder Dhir from sports industry said.

#harpal cheema