Punjab: AAP, Congress, SAD disappointed with Budget

The AAP, Congress, and SAD have expressed “disappointment” with the Budget saying it had failed to address the concerns of Punjab.

Slamming the BJP-led NDA government for not considering any of its demands, including a package for crop diversification, Punjab Finance Minister and AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema said the Budget “completely disappointed” the state.

Cheema further accused the Centre of meting out step-motherly treatment to the border state. “The Centre meted out step-motherly treatment to the people of Punjab and farmers. The BJP-led government deceived the people of Punjab,” he said.

However, the BJP leaders hailed the Budget, calling it “development-oriented”.

“The farmers have been demanding a legal guarantee of a minimum support price (MSP) on 23 crops. Despite a promise by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union government did not utter a single word on MSP. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated Rs 1.52 lakh crore for agriculture and allied sectors in the entire country, which is not enough to bring the agriculture sector out of the deepening crisis. Punjab's agriculture sector needs a special bailout package,” said Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa.

The leader of opposition said no relief was given to the industry and business community of Punjab, which have been forced to migrate to other states. On the other hand, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have got the “most priority” in the Budget, he added.