Punjab Budget session begins today; Opposition to target govt over debt, law & order

The Punjab Budget session, beginning Friday, is expected to be stormy with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) set to highlight its welfare initiatives while the Opposition prepares to attack the government over rising public debt (over Rs 4 lakh crore) and the law and order situation.

The 11-day session will see the AAP government present its fifth and final Budget before the next Assembly elections. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema is expected to present the Budget proposals on International Women’s Day on Sunday.

This will be the first time in the history of Vidhan Sabha that the Budget will be presented on a Sunday.

The government is likely to announce a monthly honorarium of Rs 1,000 for women, a key promise made by the party during the Assembly elections. The move is aimed at consolidating support among women voters, who constitute nearly 48 per cent of the electorate in the state.

Sources said the Budget was unlikely to introduce new taxes.

During the session, the government is expected to highlight its flagship programmes, including the recently launched Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana, initiatives in health and education, promotion of sports through sports nurseries and the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign.

The Opposition, particularly the Congress, plans to raise the issue of the deteriorating law and order situation.

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said incidents such as daylight robberies, gangster activity and targeted killings had increased in the state.

“When AAP sought votes before the 2022 elections, it promised to reduce the debt burden. Instead, it has added over Rs 1 lakh crore to the state’s debt in four years. We will seek answers on the fiscal health of Punjab during the session,” he said.

The session will begin with an address by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.

Debate on the Governor’s Address and the Budget will take place next week before the session concludes on March 16.