The Punjab Assembly's budget session commenced today, with opposition parties poised to challenge the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on multiple fronts, including law and order concerns, escalating state debt, and unmet electoral promises.
Congress legislators, led by Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, staged a protest outside the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, voicing their discontent over the recent eviction of farmers from protest sites at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
The opposition criticised the AAP administration for detaining farmer leaders and allegedly prioritising industrial interests over agricultural concerns.
Congress MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli remarked, "We will also demand a white paper on what the AAP govt has achieved to improve the health sector. None of their tall claims made before the assembly elections has rung true."
The opposition is set to highlight recent incidents that have raised questions about the state's law and order situation.
Among these is the alleged assault on an Indian Army Colonel and his son by Punjab Police personnel in Patiala.
Such events have intensified scrutiny of the government's ability to maintain public safety and order.
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The state's fiscal health remains a contentious issue.
The outstanding debt is projected to reach ₹3.74 lakh crore by the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year, accounting for over 46% of Punjab's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of approximately ₹8 lakh crore.
The opposition has expressed concerns that a significant portion of government borrowing is allocated to debt servicing, potentially hindering developmental initiatives.
A focal point of the opposition's critique is the AAP's unfulfilled promise to provide a ₹1,000 monthly allowance to women over 18. Despite previous assurances, the current budget lacks provisions for this scheme.
The opposition contends that implementing this allowance would require substantial financial resources, estimated at around ₹1,000 crore per month.
In response to the criticisms, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema is slated to present the budget estimates for 2025-26 on 26 March.
The AAP government has previously emphasised its focus on sectors such as education, health, and infrastructure development.
Initiatives like the establishment of 'Schools of Happiness' and 'Schools of Brilliance', the creation of 1,000 sports nurseries, and the introduction of the Punjab Horticulture Advancement and Sustainable Entrepreneurship (PHASE) scheme are highlights of the government's achievements in the state.
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