Nothing for Punjab, parties disappointed

Punjab’s political parties slammed the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, saying while it suited the BJP-led Centre’s political interests, the demands raised by the state government did not find any mention in it.

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Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema called the Budget “disappointing”.

“Our pre-Budget proposals, presented on December 20, 2024 (to the Centre) have been clearly overlooked,” said.

“The Budget has catered to the BJP’s political interests, with a special focus on poll-bound Bihar, rather than addressing the needs of the country. The Opposition-ruled states, including Punjab, did not find any mention in the Budget,” he added.

Punjab had demanded a special industrial package for its six border districts, Rs 1,000 crore to strengthen policing infrastructure along the International Border with Pakistan, new Vande Bharat trains connecting Delhi with Amritsar and Bathinda, and a rail link between Chandigarh and Rajpura.

“This shows how inimical the BJP is towards Punjab. There is nothing for agriculture sector too,” he alleged.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly — Partap Singh Bajwa — said describe the Budget a “betrayal with our farmers”.

“It should have been a forward-looking budget. The BJP has forgotten that India is a Union of States. But with a special focus on Bihar, they are only pushing their political agenda,” he said.

Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the Centre failed to provide a legal guarantee on the minimum support price of crops through the Budget. “They did nothing to ease high rural indebtedness and couldn’t earmark funds to encourage crop diversification,” he added.

Gunbir Singh, an Amritsar-based industrialist and former chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Punjab region, said this was not a bad Budget as substantive relief has been extended to the salaried class in terms of income tax relief to boost consumption.

“But the concerns that emerged out of the Economic Survey should have been addressed,” he said. Badish Jindal, a Ludhiana-based industrialist, said that the reduction in customs duty on bicycles will adversely hit this sector as the Indian market may now be flooded with products from abroad.

“Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of the state economy. But the Budget clearly benefits the big industry and corporate houses,” he said, adding that the line of credit for the MSMEs has been cut by Rs 5,000 crore.

Jangveer Singh Chohan, president of the Doaba Kisan Committee, said the Centre ignored crop diversification.

“Though Punjab farmers are often blamed for the air pollution caused by paddy stubble burning, the Budget simply did not acknowledge the need for either diversifying from paddy, or incentivising farmers against stubble burning. There is no effort to bring in agro-industry or a loan waiver for the heavily indebted farming community,” he said.

Agreeing with him, Gurbakshish Singh, a farmer from Nabha, said though the Union government increased the credit limit that farmers can avail under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, it will only add to the debt.

“Since no path has been shown to increase farmers’ income, it will be difficult for farmers to repay the higher loans taken by them,” he said.

Eminent economist Kesar Singh Bhangoo, too, said there was no effort to boost either industrial development or usher in agriculture reforms. “The long –term perspective is missing in the Budget,” he said.

State completely ignored

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said,"Punjab has once again been completely ignored in the Union Budget. There is nothing for our farmers or the youth – no industrial package or legal guarantee for MSP to improve the state economy. A step-motherly treatment has been meted out to Punjab and Punjabis."

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State completely ignored

Punjab has once again been completely ignored in the Union Budget. There is nothing for our farmers or the youth – no industrial package or legal guarantee for MSP to improve the state economy. A step-motherly treatment has been meted out to Punjab and Punjabis.— Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Chief Minister

Caters to BJP interests

Our pre-Budget proposals have been clearly overlooked. The Budget caters to the BJP’s political interests, with a special focus on poll-bound Bihar, rather than addressing the needs of the country. The Opposition-ruled states did not find any mention in the Budget. — Harpal Singh Cheema , Punjab Finance Minister

Betrayal with our farmers

The Budget is betrayal with our farmers. It should have been a forward-looking budget. The BJP has forgotten that India is a Union of States. But with a special focus on Bihar, they are only pushing their political agenda. — Partap Singh Bajwa, Punjab LoP

Failed to meet our expectations

The Union Budget failed to meet expectations of farmers and farm labourers. This Budget was completely silent on the welfare of farmers and farm labourers, for which we are protesting for over a year now at Punjab’s border points with Haryana. — Sarwan Singh Pandher, convener, KMM