Chandigarh, April 5: Punjab is grappling with a severe debt crisis, as highlighted by Congress MP Manish Tewari. Following the announcement of the ‘Chief Minister Mawan Dhiyaan Satkar Scheme,’ which promises financial aid of ₹1,000 to women, Tewari expressed his concerns about the state’s financial health. He noted that Punjab is now the second most indebted state in India, trailing only Arunachal Pradesh.
Tewari stated, “There should be no objections to providing facilities and relief to the people, as it is the responsibility of any government. However, Punjab’s debt stands at ₹4.47 lakh crore. The state government is borrowing money to pay interest; what measures are they taking to address this?” He emphasized that Punjab’s debt-to-GDP ratio is approximately 46%.
He further explained, “The amount Punjab is borrowing is primarily to service old debts. This is not a sustainable way to manage any state’s revenue. While providing assistance to the public is important, the government must also focus on improving revenue sources and achieving a balance between expenditure and income.”
In addition, Tewari commented on the issue of delimitation in the country. He remarked, “The biggest issue in the country is delimitation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated in Kerala that the number of seats for southern states will not decrease during delimitation, but this is misleading. The Prime Minister should clarify which states will see an increase in seats.”
Tewari also responded to comments made by Pakistani Defense Minister Asif Khwaja regarding ‘false flag operations.’ He asserted, “Since 1971, Pakistan has been conducting false flag operations against India. They have essentially earned a PhD in this area. Whether it is Afghanistan, India, or other South Asian countries, if there is a center of terrorism, it is Pakistan. Those who have mastered false flag operations often make baseless accusations against others, turning themselves into subjects of ridicule.”
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