Chandigarh, August 23: The Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President, Keval Singh Dhillon, sharply criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Sunday for its economic policies and financial mismanagement. He stated that instead of leading Punjab on the path of development, the state government has plunged it into a debt trap.
Dhillon noted that prior to the AAP’s rise to power, the state’s debt stood at approximately ₹28 lakh crore. However, during the nearly four-and-a-half years of the current government’s tenure, this debt has escalated to nearly ₹45 lakh crore.
He emphasized that the state government is continuously taking on new loans, yet there has been no substantial improvement in the state’s revenue, production capacity, or infrastructure despite the rising debt.
The seriousness of Punjab’s financial situation is evident, as Powercom is now preparing to take on a new loan of ₹10,000 crore. Previously, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) also decided to raise ₹15,000 crore.
Dhillon further stated that the continuous reliance of government institutions on loans is a grave indicator of Punjab’s deteriorating financial condition. He questioned how the AAP government can claim financial stability while simultaneously delaying legitimate demands from the public and the rights of government employees and pensioners, all while accruing massive debts.
He raised concerns about why government institutions are forced to repeatedly take on heavy loans if the government’s financial position is indeed strong. Additionally, he pointed out that arranging these loans incurs millions in fees paid to merchant bankers and other financial intermediaries, further burdening the state treasury.
Dhillon concluded by asserting that Punjab is being exploited while public funds are being spent on advertisements and political propaganda.
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