Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal today said there was no reason for Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to react so "peevishly" on SAD-BJP asking him not to link the Congress' poll promise of loan waiver with a central fiscal package for Punjab.
"Where was the need to get so worked up? I have said categorically that I and my party and alliance partners support him in his demand for a package.
"All I said was that the promise of waiving farmers' loans, jobs to 30 lakh households, doubling pensions, etc., should not be made dependent on Punjab getting this package."
Badal said the two should be de-linked and the state government should immediately take a cabinet decision on loan waiver, filling of vacancies and other promises made by the Congress in its manifesto.
"They have all the information and detailed data they need on the problems and there is no reason for setting up committees to study the problems now," Badal said in a statement.
He said he fully backs the Punjab Chief Minister in following the SAD-BJP's earlier demand for a central package for the state.
"We have been fighting for it since long. But please don't misuse this sensitive issue to run away from your promises on loan waiver," he said.
"I also request all political parties and leaders, including those in Congress, SAD-BJP, AAP and Lok Insaf party to exercise restraint and decorum in the language they use in public domain.
"Sometimes, mere words create harsh misunderstandings and confrontation. Punjab cannot afford it and its people deserve better conduct from us," Badal said.
He said his party would not criticise the state government for the sake of criticism.
"We will fully back all positive decisions of the government which benefit the people. But we will with equal intensity, force and vehemence oppose and fight the government's attempts to wriggle out of its commitments to the people. They must not expect us to keep quiet if they backtrack on their promises," he said.
Badal said, "There is no shift in our stand that Punjab should be given a major and liberal fiscal package. Punjab is sensitive border state with a long, active and hostile international border. We richly deserve a special package above any other state.
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