INDIA bloc MPs from Punjab call Union Budget discriminatory

New Delhi, July 26

The INDIA bloc MPs from Punjab on Friday described the Budget as discriminatory towards the rights of states and said it had nothing for the food bowl of the country. Congress MP from Patiala Dharamvira Gandhi and AAP MP from Sangrur Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said the Budget was completely anti-farmer.

“Sirf do ka vikas, baki sab ka satyanaas,” Hayer said while describing the Budget.

Gandhi blamed the Centre for weakening the states and violating the spirit of cooperative federalism by presenting a political Budget, which favours only Andhra Pradesh and Bihar — ruled by two NDA allies.

Participating in the discussion on Budget in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said it do not mention Punjab at all, whose youth was moving towards drugs, and from where industries have moved out. Gandhi said Punjab was the food bowl of the country, yet there were no assurances in the Budget regarding protection of their rights. He called for waiver of loans taken by farmers and MSP should be given to them as a legal guarantee.

AAP MP Hayer said the Budget had made Punjab feel ‘alienated’, as it was not even mentioned in it. Meet Hayer questioned the Centre and sought to know as to why it hates Punjab so much. “The farmers of Punjab saved the country from starvation and our youth laid down their lives to protect the country, but instead of honouring us, the Central Government is adopting an alienating attitude,” the Sangrur MP said.

Describing the Budget as an anti-farmer, youth, women and poor budget, Meet Hayer said the fertiliser subsidy was reduced by 27 per cent, which would further reduce the income of farmers. He said cutting the Budget for the youth would cause a big blow to the development of the country.