CM Channi’s freebies to stay on paper: Bikram Singh Majithia

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 22

Senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia claimed that Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has promised freebies worth Rs 15,000 crore in the last one month, but in reality no money has been allocated to fulfil the commitments.

Majithia said, “Promises made by CM Channi will remain on paper and the SAD-BSP alliance after forming the government will fulfil them.”

He said as much as Rs 8,000 crore is due to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited alone.

The SAD leader said waiving pending water bills would cost Rs 1,868 crore and Rs 440 crore burden would be per connection.

“As much as Rs 1,505 crore is needed to waive bills having load less than two-kilo watt, besides a few thousand crores for other promises, including increasing the subsidy for the SC and BC power consumers.”

He said the incumbent government needs Rs 2,400 crore to clear the SC Scholarship scheme backlog and Rs 550 crore for landless labourers.

“Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal has already admitted that the state’s debt has crossed Rs 2.75-lakh crore mark. This means the government does not have any money to fulfil the announcements made by the CM,” he said.

He asked the Congress government to first tell the status of promises made by former CM Capt Amarinder.