Chandigarh, March 24, 2018: AAP and Akali-BJP legislators on Saturday walked out of the House in protest against alleged inadequate debt relief proposed by Finance Minister during ongoing Budget Session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha here.
During his budget speech, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal announced proposal of Rs 4250 crore during financial year 2018-19 to provide relief to debt ridden farmers. The details of their debt liability towards Cooperative and Commercial Banks was being ascertained by the government, he added.
As soon as, Manpreet Badal made the announcement, Akali-BJP legislators led by the leader in the House Sukhbir Badal were on their feet. They rushed to the well of the house raising slogans against the government. They demanded complete waiver of the total 90,000 crore debt burden on the farmers.
Though initially, the AAP legislators watched this protest but later also joined the Akali-BJP legislators in condemning the announcement terming it as injustice.
They followed Akali-BJP legislators in staging the walkout.
Later at press conference at Vidhan Sabha complex, LoP Sukhpal Khaira justified their walkout as this budget was extension of Akalis used to present during their 10 years rle showing antipathy towards farmers issues.
The Congress government had announced meagre Rs 1500 crore in budget 2017-18 and distributed only Rs 371 crore during public functions.
This year was no different, he added.