Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said here today that by linking its promise on loan waiver to farmers with the demand for a central package, the Congress government was finding a escape route.
"The demand for the financial package from the Centre should be de-linked from the Congress poll promise of loan waiver as that promise was not made on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but was meant to be fulfilled by the state government," he said.
He said the Chief Minister Amarinder Singh should have announced the loan waiver in a cabinet decision before going to New Delhi.
Badal, however, said that he would urge the Prime Minister to announce this package for the state as soon as possible.
"Punjab not only needs it but its farmers richly deserve it also. I fully endorse the demand for a package as it is actually a demand made by the SAD-BJP government. But Punjab government should not ask the Centre to fulfill the promises made by the Congress party," he said.
Badal hoped that the Congress government would not go back on its other promises like hike in pension and shagun scheme amounts, unemployment allowance and jobs to 30 lakh youth by diverting these to the Centre.
"Please honour your promises straight away and don't look for excuses," he asked the Amarinder government
Badal described Punjab government's references to the BJP's promise on loan waiver in UP as "laughable."
"The promise made by the BJP in UP has to be fulfilled by the state government there," he said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
