NEW DELHI (July 21, 2014)—Labeling the Punjab Budget as disappointing, Journalist Bhai Jarnail Singh stated that the recently passed budget has “nothing for the Aam Aadmi of Punjab.” He said that the Government has failed to control fiscal a deficit and that Punjab is dangerously caught in debt-trap.
He further stated that the Punjab Government is not serious about countering the drug menace in the State as well. As per estimates, almost 70% of the youth in Punjab are addicts, however only Rs. 10,900,000 had been allocated to curb this problem.
He stated that big promises were made to produce power in surplus, however now Punjabis face power cuts of more than 8 hours daily. He said that while the Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa was presenting Punjab Budget in house, the power had been cut.
He said that the budget has nothing for the “poor farmers who are facing paucity of rain, danger of droughts, and because of these are committing suicide.” He asked the Government to reduce loan interests and waive off poor farmer’s loans.