Punjab Newsline, New Delhi/Chandigarh, July 23-
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has denounced the Union Budget by the Modi govt, branding it as a "Sarkar Bachao - Mehangai Badhao” (Save the government-increase inflation) maneuver.
Senior AAP Leader Sanjay Singh lambasted the budget for neglecting farmers, women, youth, and employees while providing tax reliefs to corporate houses. The budget, he argued, fails to address critical issues like guaranteeing MSP to farmers, ending the ‘Agniveer’ scheme, reinstating the old pension system, and offering tax exemptions on essential items, including petrol and diesel. Highlighting perceived discrimination, MP Sanjay Singh noted the budget's complete disregard for Delhi, which contributes ₹2.32 lakh crores in taxes annually, yet receives nothing in return. Meanwhile, AAP MP from Punjab Malvinder Singh Kang echoed these sentiments, condemning the budget as anti-Punjab, despite Punjab's substantial contribution to the central free ration scheme.
AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang, while reacting to the budget, said that Punjab was not even mentioned during the entire budget speech, whereas Punjab is the state which works to fill the food reserves of the country. Punjab alone contributes 50 percent of the food grains that the central government gives to 80 crore people under the Food Security Act.