Khangura: On Punjab finances Manpreet proposes, Sukhbir disposes - 04/10/2010

CHANDIGAH, October 4: Welcoming Finance Minister Manpreet Badal’s call for cross party deliberations over handling of the debt crisis in the state, Qila Raipur MLA Jassi Khangura today suggested that he (Badal) should first arrive at a consensus within his party and family on the issue. Khangura remarked, “whilst cross party consensus remains a tall order, it appears that let alone his own party, there is no consensus even within his family”.

The Qila Raipur MLA pointed out, “not only were the Finance Ministers observations completely ignored by the Punjab Chief Minister in his gung-ho rambling 90 minute summing up in the house, but 2 days later in Ludhiana Sukhbir Badal completely buried the idea”. He observed, this is tragic for Punjab. It represents a colossal lack of judgement by both father and son.

Khangura maintained, “Punjab needed creative solutions. We cannot continue the current financial profligacy forever. Yet, the Punjab CM and DyCM wish to carry on playing financial ‘Russian Roulette’ with the state’s finances, in the process jeopardising the lives of countless farmers and ordinary persons”.

Maintaining that Manpreet was right in calling for cross party consultations, the Qila Raipur MLA said, Congress MLAs, indeed all Punjab MLAs, need a full briefing on the Punjab FM’s recent discussions at Delhi, pursuant to which it will be correct for the Punjab Congress to enter into unconditional cross party discussions

He said, the Punjab Congress supports the principle of subsidies for farmers, the poor and the underprivileged, but it is prepared to consider new approaches. He said, the productivity bonus currently being paid to Punjab farmers is a progressive move that channels subsidy direct to the farmers and not through the power corporation. In the process, he added, the balance sheet of the power corporation looks stronger, possibly conditioning it for financial support from international developmental agencies to which the erstwhile PSEB was denied.

The Qila Raipur MLA observed, the subsidy for Punjab’s farmers, the poor and the underprivileged should not be an overwhelming issue for Punjab in 2010. Whether it is Rs. 3100 cr for electricity or Rs. 300 cr for atta-dal, a sum of Rs five thousand crores should not be particularly challenging for Punjab, he pointed out, while adding, the sale of government guaranteed residential properties to NRIs alone could annually fetch that and more.

Khangura asserted, Punjab is capable of delivering the framework for a more vibrant economy in a very short space of time. For example, he pointed out, on large residential projects allow the change of land use charges to be paid at the time of registration of the individual units and not up front, a simple change that would catalyse this critical economic sector. He also suggested implementing compulsory real time invoice data entry on a Punjab government portal, for all VAT registered traders and manufacturers with a turnover of more than Rs.50 lakhs, and VAT collections will flourish beyond belief.

Suggesting that Punjab needs today a break from the past, Khangura said, “it is time to find creative financial solutions that maintain the benefit of current subsidies, tackle state debt and lead to the economic progress of Punjab”

Jassi Khangura MLA

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