Sukhbir, Manpreet in twitter spat over Punjab’s ‘fiscal mess’

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 12

Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal engaged in a war of words on Twitter after the latter put up a collage of news reports regarding delay in releasing salary of government employees.

The estranged cousins blamed each other’s party for the “fiscal mess” that the state today finds itself in.

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

As usual, you are trying to shift the blame where it is not due @MSBADAL. Revenue generation is the job of the state government. During our tenure, we fulfilled aspirations of all sections of the society. Passing the buck gets you nowhere. It's been 3 years, figure it out. 1/3 https://t.co/L7ixi8yBa5

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) December 12, 2019

Responding to it today, Manpreet said, “Sukhbir Ji @officeofssbadal, 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 but enrich others.”

Sukhbir was quick to react, accusing the FM of “trying to shift the blame where it is not due”. He reminded him that revenue generation is the job of the state government. He said they fulfilled aspirations of all sections of the society during their tenure. “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 estranged cousins blamed each other’s party for the “fiscal mess” that the state today finds itself in.

The SAD chief went to state that the Congress ministers are now proudly receiving awards for infra projects created in the SAD-BJP regime. “It satisfies me to see our work benefiting people. But can you @MSBADAL name a single project of your govt which added a feather to the state’s cap,” he wondered.

The FM too carried on with his counterattack. He tweeted, “Sukhbir Ji @officeofssbadal. Coming from someone who left Punjab with 31000 crore CCL debt which you signed one day before counting of votes, and mortgaged the future of Punjab forever. Coming from someone @officeofssbadal who signed of future revenues of Punjab Mandi Board, PIDB, & PUDA to satisfy his ego and adding to Punjab’s debt. Coming from someone @officeofssbadal during whose government social security was always in arrears.”

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