Jaitley concedes Punjab’s long standing demand

New Delhi
Shiromani Akali Dal supremo and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal today delivered a major economic coup for Punjab and its economy as the Union Finance Minister Mr Arun Jaitley assured him that “no economic or industrial concessions will be allowed to any new units in Punjab’s neighbouring states.” This paves the way for “ a level playing field” for setting up new industrial units in Punjab or its neighbouring hill states. This had been one of the major grievances and demands of “ the sensitive border state of Punjab.” With centre conceding this demand on persistent pleas from Sukhbir , decks have been cleared for fresh investments in Punjab without any fear of having to compete on unequal terms with neighboring states.

“This puts an end to long years of injustice and indiscrimination against the brave and patriotic people of Punjab. Everyone can now set up industry in Punjab without having to face the crippling disadvantages of unequal terms between Punjab and neighboring states. I have no words to thank the Prime Minister Shri Narinder Modi and the Union Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley ji for allowing Punjabis to compete without their hands tied at their backs for any fresh enterprise,” Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal told waiting newsmen after
his meeting with the Union FM , Shri Jaitley.

Mr Badal led a delegation of his party comprising the Member Parliament Shri Naresh Gujral, Former Punjab Finance Minister S Parminder Singh Dhindsa and the party General Secretary and Advisor on National Affairs Mr Harcharan Bains . Mr Badal presented a memorandum on behalf of the SAD and “all the business, trade and industry in Punjab. This will have a spiral effect on the revival of agriculture as more industry means more demand for raw material, especially
cotton, wheat and maize etc.”

The SAD Memorandum to Shri Jaitley had detailed the injustice done to Punjab for over two Decades and pleaded that “The magnitude of losses suffered y the state on account of the concessions already given to hill states around Punjab run into incalculable proportions, amounting to several lakhs of crores. Apart from trade and industry, it has already had a spiral effect on the others sectors of economy, primarily agriculture and service sectors as the entire economy functions as an inter-dependent network of multiple market forces. “

Sukhbir pleaded that “purely on merit, no state deserves these concessions more than does Punjab which is the only part of the country which is situated on a live and hostile border which even centre admits continues to be a cause of concern for national security. It has faced four active and bloody wars since Independence . In addition, we also suffered crippling ravages of nearly two decades of militancy which even the GoI admits was a foreign sponsored conspiracy to weaken Punjab in order to bleed our great country. ”

Mr Jaitley listened to Mr Badal patiently in a meeting lasting nearly an hour, also closely ging through the memorandum . At the end, he remarked, “ I see merit in your plea. In future, we will ensure that no new units in your neighbouring states enjoy any concessions over and above what Punjab gets.”

Mr Naresh Gujral and Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Mr Harcharan Bains also profusely thanked the Union Finance Minister for his “most positive assurance.”