M A I N   N E W S

CM rejects Manpreet’s debt waiver claim, backs Sukhbir
Says Punjab owes Centre Rs 3,549 cr and figure of Rs 35,000 cr is imaginary
Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service

SAD achieved its first major success when party president Sukhbir Singh Badal brought Sant Ajit Singh, one of the three rebel MLAs who had joined Manpreet, back into the party fold Indicating that he had no “remorse” over the expulsion of Manpreet Badal from the party for “anti-party” activities, the Chief Minister said, “I made my best effort to restrain Manpreet, even sent messages and rang up his father. What more can I do? Can I force anyone to toe the party line?”

"Which government will be mad to refuse an offer wherein its debt is being waived. If the Centre announces that it will give Punjab Rs 35,000 crore as a debt waiver or in any other form, I will personally go to Delhi to get the money." — Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister

Chandigarh, October 19
Speaking his mind for the first time on political crisis emerging out of the Central debt-waiver issue, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today came out firmly supporting his son and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

He rubbished all claims of his nephew and former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, saying all talk about an offer from the Centre was humbug.

“Till date, Punjab has received no offer of any kind from the Centre, all this talk is ill-conceived”, he said, breaking his silence on the issue. Clearly for the first time, the Chief Minister has distanced himself from Manpreet.

While Badal left no doubt in anyone’s mind that Sukhbir was the way to go in terms of his succession, he said, “I will not like to comment on it”.

He indicated that a cabinet reshuffle was in the offing, saying, “I am only a caretaker of the Finance Department, I will hand over the charge to someone shortly”.

Indicating that he had no “remorse” over the expulsion of Manpreet Badal from the party for “anti-party” activities, the Chief Minister said, “I made my best effort to restrain Manpreet, even sent messages and phoned his father, what more can I do? Can I force anyone to toe the party line”, he proclaimed.

At the same time, SAD, which has upped its ante against Manpreet Badal, achieved its first major success when party president Sukhbir Singh Badal managed to bring back Sant Ajit Singh, one of the three rebel MLAs who had joined Manpreet, back into the party fold.

Sant Ajit Singh, who was presented before newsmen, said, “He stood for subsidies and no longer wanted to be associated with the former Finance Minister as he was against continuing with subsidies”.

An emotionally surcharged Chief Minister had a quiver in his voice when answering questions pertaining to his family, son and nephew. “Earlier, children were born, now fathers are born”, he said jestingly, but at the same time indicating that both he and his brother Gurdas Badal, who were commonly referred to as “Ram and Lakshman”, where helpless in front of their sons’ political aspirations.

The Badal senior, who was at the centrestage of the debate, today said, “Which government will be mad to refuse an offer where in its debt is being waived. If the Centre announces that it will give Punjab Rs 35,000 crore as a debt waiver or in any other form, I will personally go to Delhi to get the money”.

Badal went on to say that he had written to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to clarify if any recommendations had been made to Punjab yet by the sub-committee constituted on the recommendation of the 13th Finance Commission.

This committee works under the chairmanship of the Secretary Expenditure, Government of India, and aims to explore ways to get Punjab, West Bengal and Kerala out of its debt. The Chief Minister said Punjab was yet to hear from the Centre on this.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to continuing with subsidies for the poor in the state, Badal said, “We made a commitment to the people who voted us to power; we will continue to deliver what we promised. Subsidies in any form that are being given now will continue during the term of this government”.

“No son or nephew, the party is supreme. What the party leaders have done for me, no son or nephew could have done,” the Chief Minister said.

Coming down heavily on the Centre for discriminating against states, Badal said what Punjab owed to the Centre was a mere Rs 3,549 crore. The figures of Rs 35,000 crore was imaginary and without basis. There are other payments like the interest on small savings, etc which the Centre cannot waive, but we can try and ask the Centre to reschedule and stagger the payment of interest.