Chandigarh, 14 February
At a Punjabi diaspora programme held in Chandigarh, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh interacted with overseas Punjabis and listened to their concerns and suggestions on Punjab’s economy, investment climate, security, and youth outmigration, stressing the need for a clear, development-driven direction for the state.
Chugh said the BJP does not judge anyone by the “colour of the passport” but by the Indian DNA, identity, and pride that binds Indians across generations and geographies. He said India’s global stature and confidence have risen significantly since 26 May 2014, with the country being recognised for faster growth, stronger infrastructure, and decisive leadership.
Chugh said while India has accelerated on multiple fronts, Punjab must confront hard truths about why it is facing stress across all four pillars of an economy: farming, industry, commerce and services. He said Punjab needs a credible investment environment, stronger industrial policy, large-scale job creation, and a serious correction of its fiscal health, because rising debt without new capacity-building only deepens the crisis.
Chugh added that Punjab needs a double-engine government to unlock the full potential of central development programmes and to ensure governance that is decisive, policy-driven and delivery-oriented at the state level. He assured the diaspora that with the BJP in government, security, investor confidence, transparency and the protection of NRI interests would be treated as core priorities, with clear systems to safeguard investment and restore a stable, growth-friendly atmosphere.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Virendra Kumar said the diaspora is a vital stakeholder in India’s progress and Punjab’s turnaround will be stronger when overseas Punjabis actively partner in the state’s development journey. He said the central government is working with the spirit of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” to expand welfare, opportunity and infrastructure, and Punjab should move faster on the same development path.
