Sukhbir, FM slug it out on Twitter

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 12

Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal today engaged in a war of words on Twitter after the latter put up news reports regarding delay in releasing salary of government employees. The estranged cousins targeted each other’s party for the “fiscal mess”.

It all started with Sukhbir hitting out at the FM on Wednesday, saying, “The Congress government’s failures have led to tragic consequences. The FM justifies delay in staff salaries, saying the departments did not furnish details. How is that any fault of employees? Typical of the Congress to abandon those it is responsible for and look for scapegoats.”

Responding to it, Manpreet said, “Sukhbir ji, I am only trying to clear the mess that you left behind, and get rid of the culture of hidden bank accounts, not reporting on actual finances, fiscal ineptness, and cleverly crafted contracts that hurt Punjab…”

Sukhbir accused the FM of “trying to shift the blame where it is not due”. He reminded him that revenue generation was the job of the state government. “Passing the buck gets you nowhere. It’s been 3 years you have been just making excuses. If it is that difficult for you, why not quit instead of making people pay,” he asked. The SAD chief went to state that the Congress ministers were proudly receiving awards for infra projects created in the SAD-BJP regime. “It satisfies me to see our work benefiting people. But can you name a single project of your government which added a feather to the state’s cap,” he wondered.

The FM said, “Coming from someone who left Punjab with Rs 31,000 crore CCL debt which you signed one day before counting of votes, and mortgaged the future of Punjab forever. Coming from someone who signed of future revenues of Punjab Mandi Board, PIDB, & PUDA to satisfy his ego and adding to Punjab’s debt. Coming from someone during whose government social security was always in arrears.”