Chandigarh, October 8 : The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr. Mohinder Singh Kaypee, today said the state Finance Minister, Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal, was the right person but in the wrong party in which he can’t get adequate space to function. He said Mr. Badal was known for his concerns about Punjab but now time had come for him to back his ideas with actions to prove his sincerity otherwise in the perception of the people it would be nothing more than just another verbal duel.
In a statement issued here today, Mr. Kaypee said the Finance Minister had only vindicated the stand of the Congress that the Akali Dal-BJP government in the state was characterized by non-governance when he said that the corporate style of functioning of his cousin and the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, had failed to give results.
He said it was not for the first time that Mr. Manpreet Badal had come out against the functioning of his own party and government. He tried to impress the people with his simple life style and driving his own car even to the official functions. However, he had failed to provide any alternative model of governance or of suitable fiscal policy except blindly opposing subsidies to various sections of society. One could understand his limitations as he was feeling stifled and suffocated in the party whose functioning was being far from democratic but even then, he should assert himself and chart out his independent course in the interests of the state. He said the issues raised by the Finance Minister should be taken to the logical conclusion for which he would have to act and act against all odds.
Mr. Kaypee said even before taking over as Finance Minister, Mr. Manpreet Badal had been voicing his concerns and favoured a consensus approach to take Punjab on higher trajectory of development for which he had received support from all sections, including the Congress. However, he had failed to translate his concerns into actions after taking over as Finance Minister and it was for this reason that he should now act in case he was to maintain his image of a person sincerely concerned about reviving Punjab otherwise he would also end up like his uncle and the Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, who had all along deceived people by making false promises and at times raising provocative slogans, he added.
The PPCC General Secretary and the media in-charge, Mr. Parminder Singh, said now when the Centre had promised all help to the state government, the Finance Minister should issue a white paper on the financial situation as the state government now was totally dependent on Central assistance. He said most of the ongoing development projects for which the Akali Dal-BJP combine was trying to take credit were being financed by the Centre. He also called upon the BJP to clarify its position on the issues raised by the Finance Minister.