Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh , Comrade Charan Singh Virdi, Secretary Punjab state Committee, CPI(M) joining the ongoing debate on financial crisis in Punjab said that Shri Badal should admit squarely that Punjab is in continuously growing debt trap . The continuing revenue account defecit and the growing debt has acquired astronomical figure of Rs. one lakh thirteen thousand crores. The fiscal precariousness is such that even for paying salaries to the government employees, it has to raise new loans to the tune of Rs. 13 thousand crores in this fiscal year. It indicates that Punjab is in the deep debt trap.
S. Parkash Singh Badal , Chief Minister, Akali-BJP coalition government in Punjab had sought a ‘Special Financial Package’ for Punjab from the central government. During the 16th Lok Sabha elections, he boasted that if the BJP led government is formed at the centre, Punjab will definitely get such a package. As usual he did not forget to tell that successive Congress governments at the centre have always been anti Punjab. But all his tall claims were dashed to the ground when Mr. Arun Jaitely, Union Finance Minister rejected the demand of Punjab government
The Modi led NDA government is committed to the Neo-Liberal policies and is implementing it more aggressively as compared to the Congress led UPA government. Mr. Jaitley has advised the Punjab government to stop free power supply to agriculture sector and withdraw subisidies to other service sectors like water, sewerage, transport, health etc. Infact, Mr jaitley has repeated the same conditions which Mr. Pranabh Mukherjee the then finance minister in UPA government had mentioned in a letter written to Punjab, Kerala and West Bengal governments in the year 2010. Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, the then Punjab Finance Minister had virtually agreed to all these anti- people condemnable neo liberal conditions with Mr Pranabh Mukherjee and in return Mr. Mukherjee had assured of loan waiver upto 35 % and rest to be swapped on easy instalments. This had resulted in a dispute between Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal and ruling Akali Dal. Ultimately, Manpreet left Akali Dal and formed his own party, the PPP. It is pertinent to note that Mr Manpreet Singh Badal was also in support of the neo-liberal policies and his this stand was anti people and anti Punjab.
What needs to be taken special note of is the fact that basically this issue of financial crunch relates to more financial powers to the states and reorganization of Centre- State relations. From the view point of real federalism principles, more powers are concentrated in the union government whereas the states , who have more responsibility for development , have very limited financial powers. It is this skewed state of affairs which makes the states financially bankrupt and dependent on the centre and get debt ridden.
The union government discriminates the states on political considerations while extending financial assistance.
The Akali Dal which had been a votary of more powers to the states and restructuring of centre- state relations for giving more autonomy to states is no more pursuing this demand vigorously and sincerely. The states must get 50% share from the consolidated fund of India . The present 32.5% share is too less. At the same time the burden of increase in salaries and DA of the government employees which is at par with central government employees, should also be borne by the central government. The present ceiling of loan raising powers of states from the present ceiling of loan from financial market should be increased from 15 % to 50 %. The anti people FRBMA ACT ( Fiscal Responsibility & Budget Management Act – 2003 ) should be abolished and the fixed 3 % upper limit of fiscall defecit should be removed.
The Punjab government should reduce wasteful expenditure , free electricity supply to agriculture sector should be restricted to peasants owning upto 7-1/2 ( 3 Hectares ) acres of land, landlords should be charged at commercial rates, the rich should be taxed to mobilize financial resources and top bureaucracy should be pruned to justified strength. The unnecessary army of parliamentary secretaries should be sacked as it a unnecessary burden on the government exchequer.
People of Punjab should not be under any illusion that the Akalis, BJP led NDA government or Congress would take any pro people steps for development of Punjab and adopt pro people policies. The pro people political forces and organizations should mobilize public opinion on the financial crisis in Punjab. They should launch consistent struggles to force the bourgeoise landlord parties to shun anti people neo-liberal policies dictated by IMF, World Bank and WTO and adopt people oriented policies.
