Manpreet details sweeping reforms in politics,finance and society

Listing out his proposed reforms in the political sphere that sounded like veiled jibes at Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal,Manpreet said no blood relative should serve in the same cabinet. “The VIP culture should be also eliminated in Punjab. No person should be allowed to use red beacon atop the vehicle and use a siren until and unless it is some medical or law and order emergency,” Manpreet said. He also stated that,“MLAs would not serve in the same cabinet for more than two terms”. Manpreet said 50 per cent seats in the state legislature must be reserved for women and youth. He also demanded quota for women in the courts,education,health and social services.

Talking about social reforms,Manpreet placed the issue of corruption at the top and said there should be zero tolerance on corruption. “There should be special courts to deal with corruption cases and all such cases should be decided within a year of their registration,” Manpreet said. Terming the Punjab Police as too powerful and intricately linked to political-industrial corruption,Manpreet said there was a need to restructure and depoliticise the police. “Today,due to the political connectivity,an SHO is not answerable to the SSP and the SSP is not answerable to the DGP,” Manpreet said.

On drugs,Manpreet said he and his supporters would pursue a policy to ensure that there are no liquor vends located inside any village. “The liquor vends would be outside the periphery of villages,” said Manpreet,advocating special laws like Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and setting up of special courts for expediting judgments.

Continuing with his social reforms agenda,Manpreet pressed upon the need to change the cropping pattern and adoption of new practices. He also talked about “a mega project to recycle water in every village and city in five years”.

Talking finances and economy – his forte – Manpreet expressed concerns over the fiscal health of the state and gave out figures of revenue deficit (Rs 5,000 crore) and fiscal deficit (4 per cent of the economy). He underlined the need to reduce both: the first by increasing revenue and cutting on expenditure and the latter in a phased manner from 4 per cent to 2.5 per cent in five years and then to 2 per cent in the next five years.

Manpreet spoke about setting a target of investing 30 per cent of GSDP (which he said was equal to Rs 60,000 crore in 2011) to achieve a growth rate of 10 per cent per annum by 2017. He claimed it would enable the state to double its income every seven years.

He advocated opening up the economy of Punjab and looking towards the eastern countries to achieve the objective. He added that dry ports at Ludhiana,Jalandhar and Amritsar can be expanded for trade with China.

Expressing concerns over the poor industrial scenario in Punjab,Manpreet said investors should not be bullied. He also talked about “winning back” the confidence of NRIs to create a conducive environment for investment. For that,he proposed constituting a three-member committee. Manpreet also talked about creating one lakh jobs every year to tackle the problem of unemployment.

Speaking about tax revenue,Manpreet said there was no need to levy any new taxes. Rather,the compliance should be ensured and tax evasion should be checked. By ensuring that,tax rates could be rather reduced,he said.