Chandigarh, Sept 9 (KNS):BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh today strongly criticized the failure of the AAP government in Punjab to manage the state finances.

He said acute financial mismanagement under the AAP Government has pushed Punjab to the verge of bankruptcy.

While questioning the Punjab government prudence of seeking to borrow Rs 10, 000 crores from the Centre Chugh said despite various measures and claims, the state’s financial health continues to deteriorate, raising serious concerns about the government’s ability to manage its finances effectively.

He said the way the Bhagwant Mann government has hiked VAT on petrol and diesel and raised the bus fares
indicated serious concerns about the state's handling of financial planning and allocation of resources. He blamed the AAP government for lacking financial discipline. AAP came to power through false promises and their manifesto remains an empty promise.

Chugh demanded a white paper from the Government of Punjab on their financial handling and called for the resignation of the Punjab CM for failing in his role.

Chugh questioned CM Bhagwant Mann on how the state plans to manage its debt and what specific measures have been taken to reduce it since he assumed office. With the current debt repayment obligations standing at Rs 69,867 crore for this fiscal year, how does the government justify seeking an additional borrowing limit of Rs 10,000 crore? Chugh said “The state is getting into a vicious loop by taking on new debt while still paying down part of its existing debt to pay for capital expenditures and debt payments”.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Regarding expenditure control, can the government provide a detailed plan on how it intends to curb unnecessary spending and improve financial discipline? On the interest payment side, Chugh questioned how, with Rs 23,900 crore of receipts allocated for interest payments, the government plans to reduce the interest burden and free up funds for other essential expenditures. Additionally, what long-term financial planning measures does the state have in place, and how will it avoid similar crises in the future?

Tarun Chugh also demanded the government to provide a detailed breakdown of how the borrowed funds are being utilized to ensure transparency and accountability.

Chugh blamed the AAP government for the failure of its policies, driving the state’s economy into financial disaster. He highlighted that while the people of Punjab are burdened, debt continues to grow with no control, despite rising revenue collections through increased taxes. He said, Punjab is geting in to debt trap because of such a failed CM from AAP.

In light of these concerns, Tarun Chugh urged the state government to provide clear answers to these questions, emphasizing that the people of Punjab deserve to know how their government plans to handle this financial crisis and ensure a stable future for the state. (KNS)