Preemptive Revenge on Punjabis:Raja Warring on Budget
Chandigarh, March 26, 2025:
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today criticized the Budget 2025 presented by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, calling it lacking in both substance and vision.
"This is one of the most defeatist budgets any government can prepare and present as the AAP appears to have reconciled to its imminent defeat and exit, hence has decided not to provide any relief to the people of Punjab," Warring said. He described it as a "preemptive revenge on Punjabis."
Warring questioned the government on the status of its “repeated promise” of ₹1000 monthly cash assistance to the women of the state. He remarked that the government should have at least shown sincerity by beginning the assistance program.
He further pointed out that expectations from the budget were low, given the state’s mounting debt, which has reached approximately ₹3 lakh crore, while the budget stands at around ₹2.36 lakh crore.
"Practically, there is not a single penny allocated for infrastructure development in the state," he observed. He accused the government of repackaging old schemes and central government programs, adding that most funds allocated to departments would likely be used for salaries without a guarantee of timely payments.
Warring reiterated that the AAP government had taken "preemptive revenge" on the people of Punjab, believing its tenure was nearing an end. He said this was evident in the government’s reluctance to provide any relief to the public even in its fourth budget, which was expected to be pro-people.
He also criticized the government for failing to implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), despite issuing notifications earlier.
Regarding the government's plan to conduct a drug addicts’ census, Warring dismissed it as a "mere gimmick" and labeled it a cruel joke. He questioned the motive behind the census, asking, "Do you want to parade them and humiliate them?" He emphasized that the health department already has records of drug addicts in the state.