Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Tuesday urged the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to consider the border state of Punjab “as a security case, and not just as an economic case at the time of budgetary allocation”. At the same time, the Finance Minister demanded that Punjab be given “special packages” as given to its immediate neighbouring states.
“Punjab, the sword-arm of India, has always stood against external intrusions, thus, the border state must be considered as a security case, not just as an economic case at the time of budgetary allocation,” said Manpreet during a virtual discussion with Union Finance Minister to step up investment, infrastructure and growth in the country.
Strongly recommending Punjab’s case for considering special packages to wean away the agrarian state to industries, Manpreet apprised the Union Minister that the land locked state also deserves special packages at par with its immediate neighbouring states such as Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, saying that biological chain of Punjab is very strong and its people are very hardworking.
“Let not the geography of Punjab define its future as the State fought for the nation in 1947, 1962, 1965, and 1971, besides the 10 years war against terrorism which sponsored by ‘our friends’ across the border,” he added.
Punjab needs some nourishment from the Government of India as the state is facing new age challenges in transition of agriculture, said the Finance Minister, while urging the Union Finance Minister to come out with some schemes like PLI which was given to industry so that Punjab can successfully migrate to other crops or animal husbandry from two crop pattern.
It will not only increase the farmers’ income but also help in conservation of groundwater and solve the problem of stubble burning which is again a burning issue in the country.
Manpreet also sought the allotment of a Pharma park, a Food Park, and a Textile Park for Punjab, which will act as a game changing step for the Punjab.
As far as power generation is concerned, Manpreet said that Punjab is the farthest destination from coal mines, and actually, we want to switch from fossil fuels into either solar or gas if possible. “If we can somehow retire our coal-fired power stations, power will become cheap in the State,” he added.
He said that Punjab has very good infrastructure in terms of logistics and everything but there are missing links in railways including at Patti and Makhu, Rajpura and Mohali, and Beas and Qadian.
Urging to look for options to provide services to the citizens at their doorsteps using technology, he urged the Union Finance Minister to ask the Union Health Minister to start the National Institute of Virology as soon as possible as the land has already been provided for the same.
Manpreet also requested for the approval of Punjab’s case of special central assistance for the Capital projects for Rs 150 crores, which is somehow struck at the Central Government level.
