CHANDIGARH: Reacting to the Punjab Budget, Bharatiya Janata Party Punjab’s Working State President Shri Ashwani Sharma said that the budget is a major betrayal of the mothers and sisters of Punjab and is disappointing for farmers, employees and the common people. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party government, which was formed on March 16, 2022, will complete four years, i.e., 48 months, on March 16, 2026. If the Bhagwant Mann government was truly sensitive towards women, it should have made a provision in the budget to give them a lump sum of ₹48, 000 for the last four years, calculated at ₹1, 000 per month.
Sharma said that the government has announced giving ₹1, 000 or ₹1, 500 to women, but has not allocated the full required budget for it. Approximately ₹15, 000 crore is required for this scheme, whereas only ₹9, 300 crore has been provided in the budget. Moreover, the government has imposed a registration condition for the scheme. Just as the registration for the ₹10 lakh health insurance scheme has not been completed so far, it is clear that the registration for this scheme will also remain pending for a long time and women will not receive the benefits.
He said that farmers have also been deceived because, despite electoral promises, MSP has not been provided for all 24 crops and MSP has not been given legal guarantee.
Sharma alleged that the state government is presenting funds coming under Central Government schemes as its own. Road projects worth about ₹15, 000 crore are under Central Government schemes; houses being built for the poor, ₹3, 504 crore under AMRUT 2.0, and facilities such as new classrooms and computers in schools are also being provided through funds from the Central Government.
He further said that the budget has also ignored health services and the interests of employees, which has led to disappointment among the people.