Governor’s Address a bundle of lies: Punjab LoP Partap Singh Bajwa

Acrimonious scenes were witnessed during a debate on the Governor’s Address as the Opposition teared into the government’s claim in absence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Terming the Governor’s Address as a “bundle of lies”, Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa accused the CM of running away from the discussion. He said AAP, which had come to power by promising ‘badlav’, had fallen flat in its actions.

He added that neither kisan nor jawan was safe under AAP. The LoP questioned the government on acting against the big fish involved in drug trade and on implementing the poll guarantees like giving monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 to women.

“The government has failed to act against AIG Raj Jit, whose name had figured in adding drug peddlers, and DSP Gursher Sandhu, who had facilitated interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi,” he said. Terming the AAP government as anti-farmer, Bajwa said, “Farmers incurred a loss of over Rs 3,500 crore as their paddy produce was procured Rs 200 per quintal below the MSP. Farm leaders were detained under the garb of their meeting with the Union Minister. Even their trailers and other valuables were taken away by the police from the protest sites.”

Justice is nowhere in sight in the 2015 Bargari sacrilege incidents and the police firing at Kotkapur and Behbal Kalan, said Bajwa, adding that government employees were still waiting for implementation of the old-pension scheme.

He accused the CM for not taking up the issue of youths deported in handcuffs by the US military planes at Amritsar airport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Concluding the speech, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said AAP’s promise of providing free electricity to the people had been fulfilled.

Taking a dig at previous governments, he attributed to his government’s ability to clear Rs 9,000 crore subsidy arrears left by the Congress.

Cheema highlighted Aam Aadmi Clinics, which have provided free treatment and medicines to the countless citizens.

In education sector, Schools of Eminence and international teacher training programme were among the major initiatives, said Cheema, adding that the law and order had improved under the leadership of CM Mann. He claimed to provide employment to over 50,000 youngsters and promote sports through “Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan” and the plan to establish 1,000 sports nurseries.

Cheema reaffirmed the government’s commitment to provide financial assistance of Rs 1 crore to families of soldiers who lay down their lives for the nation. He also highlighted the government’s efforts to manage state’s debt and regularisation of teachers.

“The previous Akali-BJP and Congress governments have left Punjab with a staggering debt burden of Rs 3 lakh crore. The interest on this debt is Rs 20,000 crore annually. While efforts are being made to repay the principal amount, a substantial portion of the budget is still being allocated towards paying off the interest, putting a strain on the state’s resources,” said Cheema.