Photo Source: Babushahi Network
“New” industrial policy a fraud - Sukhbir Badal
(Says no quantifiable incentives given to home grown industry vis a vis neighbouring States)
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, February 3, 2023:
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was perpetrating a fraud on industrialists in Punjab by announcing a “new” industrial policy to deflect attention from its failure to provide a congenial industrial atmosphere in the State which had led to the flight of industry rom Punjab to other States.
Terming the “new” AAP industrial policy as a knee jerk reaction and as one which did not provide any incentive to home grown industries, the SAD President said “ the policy is mere hog wash. There are no quantifiable benefits. It is deliberately opaque on benefits except those to the proposed lone anchor units. There is nothing in the policy which makes it competitive with the policies of the neighbouring States. There is no reason why industry from outside Punjab should invest in the State”.
Asserting that the industrial climate would get worse in the coming days, Mr Sukhbir Badal said “we are already witnessing the steady migration of Punjab industry to Uttar Pradesh. The next phase of migration will be worse as mismanagement of the power sector and PSPCL will result in severe power cuts in the summer giving a body blow to industrial sector in the State”.
Asserting that investment in Punjab had been severely affected during the tenure of the previous Congress government which had virtually dismantled the Invest Punjab department, Mr Badal said the situation has become worse now. “This is because the culture of extortions has rattled the business community and sent wrong signals about Punjab both nationally and internationally. This is why despite a multi crore spend, chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s trips both in India and abroad have been abysmal failures”.
Mr Badal said in stark contrast the novel industrial policy implemented by the erstwhile SAD government had led to record investment. “This was also because we created a one stop department under the name of Invest Punjab which gave all clearances under one window”. He said the SAD industrial policy as well institution of the Invest Punjab department had been recognised nationally with Punjab being declared the number one State in ease of doing business. “Sadly now we bring up the rear on all parameters”, he added.