Oppn parties trash budget proposals

CHANDIGARH :The two main opposition parties in the Punjab assembly on Monday dismissed the budget presented by finance minister Manpreet Badal as a document full of “jugglery of figures”, with Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal leading the attack saying the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government was ‘driverless’.

Participating in a debate on budget proposals, Sukhbir said it was “deceptive” and that the financial condition of Punjab has worsened in the first two years of the Congress government.

The former deputy chief minister said the overall economic growth of the state came down to 6.27% and 5.93% in 2017 and 2018 from 7.16% during the previous SAD-BJP rule in 2016.

“You used to call us sand mafia. But reality is that while we were in government the total collection the state made from sand mining was ₹102 crore in 2017. This went down to ₹32 crore this year against the target of ₹400 crore as projected by the finance minister. ” said the SAD chief.

₹3,585 crore remains unspent in the previous budget, raising a question mark over the functioning of the govt AMAN ARORA, AAP MLA

ALLOCATION FOR EDUCATION LOW: LOP

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said the budget allocation for the education sector was too low.

“This is the reason why different teacher unions are protesting as the funds are not sufficient to meet their needs. I demand to increase the spending on education to atleast 20% so that the basic infrastructure of schools can be revamped” he said.

CONG, LIP DEMAND RELEASE OF CANE DUES

Congress and the Lok Insaaf Party raised delay in payment of cane dues by private millers owners o farmers in Punjab. LIP’S Simarjeet Bains said cooperative and private sugar mills owed ₹996 crore to farmers.