SAD, Congress pushed Punjab into debt trap: AAP

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 3

AAP’s Punjab affairs co-incharge Raghav Chadha accused the previous Akali-BJP and the current Congress governments of pushing Punjab into debt trap.

“Punjab is under Rs 3 lakh crore debt. With the population of 3 crore today, every individual is under Rs 1 lakh debt. Every child born here is already under debt,” he said.

Chadha said it was surprising that 20 per cent of the annual Budget was being spent only to pay the loan interest. “Had the government not been under debt, this money could be used to construct hospitals, schools, roads and overbridges. But the taxpayers’ money is being spent in repaying the debt,” he said.

Accusing SAD and Congress leaders of corruption, Chadha said: “Every year, Punjab’s treasury is getting empty, but the assets of these corrupt leaders are increasing rapidly. Legislators, who earlier only had scooters, roam in high-end cars today. They have constructed mansions and farmhouses with public money. The exchequer has been emptied because of the loot and corruption of these leaders.”