Unsustainable debts, funds misused: SAD accuses AAP govt of pushing Punjab towards bankrupt economy

He said, “Against a total loan of Rs 1.38 lakh crore at the end of the SAD government’s tenure in 2017, the debt went up to Rs 2.08 lakh crore during the Congress tenure and was now Rs 4.25 lakh crore.”

Punjab was also feeling the effects of a bankrupt economy, Sharma said, adding that all the social welfare benefits like aata dal, Shagun, pensions, SC scholarship, Teerath Yatra, free medicines, cycles and sports kit were halted. He said even money collected from government employees and the public under the Chardhi Kala fund were not used for flood relief or any other public cause.

Sharma said the AAP was also destroying institutions like GMADA by borrowing money from them. “The government has taken Rs 12,000 crore from GMADA but has no road map on how the funds will be used to strengthen infrastructure or any other allied activity. Similarly, it has used Rs 12,000 crore from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) deposited by the central government… used on advertisements and publicity stunts.”

He said the earlier SAD government had built a power infrastructure by establishing new thermal plants and increasing power transmission by 8,000 circuit km. It also built airports and 90,000 kilometres of roads. “In direct contrast, the AAP has failed to add even one unit of power in the state in the last four years.”

The SAD leader said only repair work of roads had been taken up for which inflated tenders were issued. “Even for this, a loan of Rs 129 crore has been secured from market committees to give credit for the work to the Chief Minister.”

Trade and industry was also suffering from extortion from gangsters as well as the state, Sharma said, adding that the ETOs were directed to raid five industrial premises monthly and collect a minimum penalty of Rs 8 lakh. “Power in Mandi Gobindgarh costs Rs 9 to Rs 10 per unit while it is Rs 5 per unit in Baddi. Why will the industry remain in Punjab in such circumstances?” he asked. It was due to these reasons that exports from Punjab had fallen from $5,700 million in 2017 to $1,800 million now.

Regarding religious tourism, Sharma claimed the footfall of foreign tourists had increased from five lakh to ten lakh foreigners during the SAD tenure. “The AAP government has not put up a single board to promote tourism in Punjab but has pasted the Chief Minister’s advertisements across all airports in the country.”