Chandigarh, March 8
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa on Saturday strongly criticized the Budget presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema of the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government, stating that it is nothing more than a bundle of grand announcements aimed at creating headlines while completely ignoring the urgent need to revive Punjab’s struggling economy.
Bajwa said the Budget once again exposes the AAP government’s lack of a clear economic vision to generate employment, revive industry, or improve the State’s financial health. “The AAP government has perfected the art of making tall claims and grand announcements, but when it comes to presenting a concrete roadmap for economic revival and employment generation, the Budget is completely hollow,” Bajwa said.
Taking strong exception to the government’s claim that all guarantees have been fulfilled, Bajwa pointed out that the most prominent promise made by AAP during the 2022 Assembly elections — ₹1000 per month for women — has been announced only now, after four years in power. “If the government claims that all guarantees have been fulfilled, then why did Punjab’s women have to wait four long years for the ₹1000 scheme? This clearly shows that the announcement is politically timed rather than a result of responsible governance,” Bajwa said.
Bajwa also highlighted the alarming rise in Punjab’s debt under the AAP government. He said when AAP came to power, the State’s debt stood at around ₹2.84 lakh crore, which has now surged to nearly ₹4.17 lakh crore, placing an enormous financial burden on the State’s future.
“Instead of reducing the debt and strengthening revenue generation, the AAP government is pushing Punjab deeper into a debt trap through reckless financial management and populist announcements,” Bajwa said.
The Leader of Opposition further said the Budget does not offer any credible strategy to attract real investments or create sustainable employment for Punjab’s youth. He noted that while the government claims to have received investment proposals worth thousands of crores, there is little clarity on how many of these proposals have actually translated into industries on the ground.
“Youth unemployment continues to be one of the biggest challenges in Punjab. Thousands of young people are leaving the State and even migrating abroad in search of opportunities. Instead of presenting a clear industrial and employment strategy, the government is merely presenting proposals and projections in its Budget speech,” Bajwa said.
Bajwa also pointed out that despite growing concerns about crime, drugs and public safety across the State, the Budget speech offered little reassurance to citizens regarding their safety. “The people of Punjab expected a Budget that would provide a clear direction for economic revival, employment generation and improved governance. Unfortunately, what they have received instead is a document filled with rhetoric and announcements,” he said.
Bajwa added that after four years in power, the AAP government should have been presenting solid achievements rather than repeating promises that were made in 2022. “This Budget reflects a government that is more focused on publicity and political optics than on serious governance and long-term economic reform for Punjab,” Bajwa added.
