Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

Capt satisfied over Centre’s cooperatio­n

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SAYS HIS GOVT HAS INHERITED ₹2.08LAKH CRORE DEBT FROM THE PREVIOUS SADBJP GOVERNMENT

CHANDIGARH Chief minister Captain Am arin der Sing hon Friday expressed satisfacti­on over the cooperatio­n extended by the Modi government to Punjab.

Addressing members of the Punjab and Ha ryan a Bar Associatio­n, the CM pointed out that his government has inherited Rs 2.08- lakhcro re debt from the previous SAD BJP government. While he described this huge fiscal deficit as a massive problem, he also expressed gratitude to the Centre for the cooperatio­n it is extending to the state.

Punjab and Haryana High Court chief justice SJ Vazifdar and other senior judges were also present on the occasion. Amarinder recalled how former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh always told him that as PM, it was his duty to extend support to all states, including Punjab which was then ruled by the SAD-BJP.

The CM expressed satisfacti­on that BJP PMs, including former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee and incumbent Narendra Modi, treated the Congress government in the state in the same way.

Citing unemployme­nt, agrarian crisis and economic revival as the biggest problems faced by his government, Amarinder said the situation is challengin­g and requires coordinate­d efforts to tackle it effectivel­y.

Earlier, chief justice Vazifdar lauded Amarinder’s various accomplish­ments, including his political career, books on military history and other writings.

Amarinder called upon the executive wing of the government to tighten its belt and improve its functionin­g to minimise the pressure on the judiciary. “People should not end up running to the judiciary for justice on the smallest of matters.”

In response to the Bar’s demand for Rs 5 cr ore for upgrading the library and other infrastruc­ture of the bar council, the CM announced Rs 50 lakh as a “small token ”, lamenting his inability to give more in view of the state’s fiscal crisis. Lawyers require the best of libraries and other assets, he said, promising bigger contributi­on once the state’s economic situation starts improving.

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