Opposition leaders of Punjab called the state budget “misleading” on Sunday. They questioned how the government would arrange funds to fulfil its promise of providing ₹1,000 per month to women.
Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party chief, Sunil Jakhar, too, launched a scathing attack on the state budget, claiming the government’s financial roadmap would "uproot the very foundations of Punjab". His remarks came as a direct challenge to Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who had previously hailed the budget as a successful fulfilment of the administration's core promises.
Jakhar dismissed these claims as entirely misleading during a briefing with journalists following a party workers' meeting in Moga. The gathering was held to finalise preparations for Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s upcoming rally on March 14. Central to Jakhar’s criticism was the state’s precarious debt situation; he pointedly questioned how the government intended to bankroll its high-profile pledge of a 1,000-rupee monthly stipend for women without pushing the treasury further into the red.
"The government talks of financial guarantees, but where is the capital actually coming from?" Jakhar asked, suggesting that the current fiscal strategy lacks any real substance. He noted that the mounting debt burden remains a primary concern that the budget fails to adequately address.
Accompanied by state vice-president Kewal Singh Dhillon and several local party activists, Jakhar confirmed that he is currently conducting a line-by-line review of the fiscal document. He is expected to hold a press conference in Chandigarh on Monday to provide a more exhaustive breakdown of the opposition's grievances, pertaining to the state's budget.
Also read: Harpal Cheema presents Punjab’s final AAP budget ahead of polls
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