Getting state rid of mounting debt top priority, says AAP's Bhagwant Mann

Chandigarh, January 14

State A president Bhagwant Mann today said the party’s top priority would be to get the state rid of debt of over Rs 3 lakh crore.

Will end sand mafia

We will end the sand mafia that is robbing the state of Rs20,000 crore every year. Similarly, transport and excise will be better managed. — Bhagwant Mann, AAP President

He said while Punjab continued to reel under ever-increasing debt, the assets of leaders increased manifold. “Leaders that ruled the state have built huge hotels, palaces and shopping malls, and purchased property abroad. Buses belonging to them have also increased manifold. At the same time, government buses and routes have decreased drastically,” he said.

Not a single leader had become poor, because they plundered the government treasury, Mann added. “Today Punjab has a debt of over Rs 3 lakh crore and it has a population of three crore. Thus every Punjabi has a debt of Rs 1 lakh on his head, meaning every child in Punjab is born under debt,” he said.

The Sangrur MP said AAP had a comprehensive plan for the overall development of Punjab. Presenting a blueprint, Mann said: “Out of Punjab’s treasury of Rs 1,68,000 crore, Rs 35,000 crore is being looted every year through corruption and mafia, which will be stopped first if AAP comes to power.”

The AAP president said their government would not tolerate corruption and vendetta politics. — TNS