Jakhar challenges Jaitley to disclose who had benefitted from demonetisation
Says move had only filled up pockets of corporate houses, common people suffering
Bhoa (Pathankot), September 26, 2017: Punjab Congress president and Gurdaspur by-election candidate Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday challenged Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely to come out with information on who had really benefitted from the demonetisation decision of the central government.
Addressing a series of worker meetings across Bhoa, Jakhar demanded from Jaitley, who was slated to campaign for BJP candidate Swaran Salaria in Gurdaspur, a clarification on the demonetisation impact. "Let him come and tell the people who, apart from the Ambanis and the Adanis had benefitted from demonetisation," challenged Jakhar.
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president recalled that former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had warned that such a move would lead to decline in GDP by 2%, which in simple terms meant a loss of 4 crore jobs. The common man was suffering and struggling to manage three meals a day under the Mogi regime, he noted, adding that only corporates would be celebrating Diwali this year.
Jakhar observed that the central government had earned Rs 9 lakh crores in three years because of decrease in fuel prices in the international market. Out of this money, the Centre should give Rs 1 lakh crore to Punjab instead of just handing out doles to corporates, he added.
Observing that concessions were being given to other states by the central government even though Punjab, as a border state, had similar problems, he warned that no industry would come to the border belt of the state if such anti-Punjab policies of the Centre continued.
Jakhar also demanded that the MNREGA scheme started by the UPA government should be implemented properly by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
Promising holistic development of the region, Jakhar said the Congress government was working to ensure all basic amenities for the people, including clean drinking water and proper roads.
He cited the poor condition of the roads in the area to highlight the total lack of development under the erstwhile Badal regime. The Badals had spent crores of rupees on building 7-star hotels while ignoring the basic development needs of Punjab, he said, pointing out that the Akalis failed to make any roads and there were no factories for 25 kms around the region.