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Punjab News. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has responded to the allegations made by the opposition leaders on the Punjab government regarding the debt. He said that the details of each and every loan taken by the Bhagwant Mann government of the state have been given. He said that out of the total debt, 27 thousand crore rupees have been paid as interest on the loan taken by the previous Akali-BJP and Congress led state government.
On this occasion, he appealed to Governor Banwari Lal Purohit to help the state government in getting the dues of Rs 8145 crore from the central government. He also urged the Prime Minister to resolve the India-Canada dispute through dialogue.
Akali BJP government destroyed Punjab – Cheema
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhavan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema gave an accounting of Rs. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the state government has taken a loan of Rs 47,109 crore during the last one and a half year, in which Rs 32,448 crore has been taken during the financial year 2022-23 and Rs 14,661 crore from April, 2023 to August. Out of this, Rs 27,106 crore has been paid as interest on loans taken by previous Akali-BJP and Congress-led state governments, he said.
Harpal Cheema gave the details of the loan
He said that apart from spending Rs 10,208 crore on capital expenditure, the state government took a loan of Rs 1,148 crore from PNSAP and Punjab State Cooperative Agriculture Development Bank to save these institutions. Apart from this, P.S.P.C.L. 2556 crore of electricity subsidy owed by previous governments will be paid. He said that apart from this, Rs 798 crore has been given to Rural Development Fund, Rs 1008 crore to sugarcane farmers and Rs 1750 crore to Centrally sponsored schemes. He informed that the Punjab government has also invested Rs 4000 crore in the sinking fund created by the central government to provide loans at cheaper rates.
Appeal to the Governor to release the due money from the Centre
The finance minister also gave information about the money owed to the central government. He said that the total due to the central government is Rs 8145 crore, which includes Rs 5637 crore of Rural Development Fund, Rs 1857 crore of Special Capital Assistance and Rs 651 crore of National Health Mission (NHM). Apart from writing a letter to the central government in this regard, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has also met the concerned central minister and demanded the dues of the state including the outstanding Rural Development Fund (RDF) from the central government. They have appealed to Governor Banwari Lal Purohit to help in getting the due amount from the central government.
‘There was an increase in revenue during our government’
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that GST in the state. Excise revenue increased by 17 percent, excise revenue by 44 percent, vehicle tax by 13 percent and stamp and registration revenue by 3 percent. The Punjab government has also negotiated with the central government regarding the cash credit limit loan taken during the Akali-BJP government. In this, the Punjab government has been successful in reducing the loan interest rate to 7.35 percent. This has saved the state 3500 crore rupees and benefited the farmers.
‘Chandigarh belongs to Punjab and will remain Punjab’
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also answered questions on the North Zonal Council meeting to be held in Amritsar, in which he said that the issues of the state will be taken up strongly by the Punjab government. Even before this, during the last meeting of the Council, the issues of BBMB and Punjab University were effectively raised. On the issue of Chandigarh and Vidhan Sabha, he said that Chandigarh belongs to Punjab and will remain Punjab’s. If Haryana wants its own separate assembly then it can form its own separate assembly in Panchkula.
‘Canada-India dispute should be resolved through dialogue’
Regarding the Canada-India dispute, he said that not only students from Punjab but from all over India study in Canada and many Indian professionals are also working there. Therefore, the Prime Minister should quickly resolve this issue through talks with the Prime Minister of Canada.
‘Why is Manpreet Badal running away from the law?’
Speaking on BJP leader Manpreet Singh Badal, he said that earlier it was always a matter of moral values, then why are they running away from the law now. He said that the former finance minister should not keep his cowardly attitude. They should surrender themselves to the law because if Manpreet Singh Badal has not done anything wrong then why are they afraid.
‘Government is fulfilling its promises to the people’
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu have given statements regarding the financial condition and debt of Punjab. He has replied that the state had the highest debt during his rule. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government is not only waiving the outstanding debt but also fulfilling the promises made to the people of the state. He claimed that so far 37 thousand youths have been given government jobs. The services of 13 thousand temporary teachers have been regularized and the salaries have been increased three times. The allowance of Patwaris during training has also been increased from Rs 5000 to Rs 18000. Also the electricity bills have also been reduced to zero. Apart from this, several major initiatives have been taken including the establishment of Aam Aadmi Clinics.
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