Sharing a common sir-name but separated by political inclinations, two warring cousins — Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and SAD president Sukhbir Badal — have taken to the cyber space for fighting it out on the State’s financial health.
As the State is passing through its worst-ever economic crisis, Manpreet and Sukhbir entered into a war of words, on the micro-blogging website Twitter, blaming each other for the fiscal mess Punjab is in at present. So much so, that Sukhbir even went on to ask Manpreet to quit the coveted post if he was not capable to manage State’s finances even after three years of the current Government.
Shooting back, Manpreet reminded Sukhbir of Rs 31,000 crore on food grain purchase account days before leaving the office in 2017, mortgaging future revenues of Mandi Board, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB), and Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), pending social security compensation that led to mounting state’s debt.
Notably, Punjab has the worst debt-to-GDP ratio of 39.9 percent, with the state’s total debt estimated to be Rs 2.10 lakh crore by the end of the current fiscal.
It may be mentioned that the staff of several Government departments is yet to get the salaries, triggering protest dharnas. Finance Minister Manpreet has clarified that the delay in salaries was due to technical issues as these departments have failed to furnish details, of their accounts, however, the SAD has dubbed it as “financial” issues.
Sukhbir, who had been the Deputy Chief Minister during the previous SAD-BJP regime, took to Twitter to criticize the Congress-led Punjab Government, and his estranged cousin Manpreet. “Congress govt’s failures have led to tragic consequences. The FM @MSBADAL justifies delay in staff salaries saying depts did not furnish details. How is that any fault of employees? Typical of the @INCPunjab to abandon those it is responsible for and look for scapegoats,” he tweeted sharing clippings of several news reports.
Retorting, Manpreet found fault in the previous SAD-BJP government for putting the state into such fiscal “mess” by indulging in “hidden” bank accounts, incompetent fiscal dealings, and drafting contracts to enrich others and not Punjab.
“Sukhbir Ji @officeofssbadal. I am only trying to clear the mess that you left behind, and get rid of the culture of hidden bank accounts, not reporting on actual finances, fiscal ineptness, and cleverly crafted contracts that hurt Punjab but enrich others,” tweeted Manpreet.
Responding, Sukhbir tweeted, “As usual, you are trying to shift the blame where it is not due @MSBADAL. Revenue generation is the job of the State Government.
During our tenure, we fulfilled aspirations of all sections of the society. Passing the buck gets you nowhere. It's been 3 years, figure it out.”
In related tweet, Sukhbir said: “For the last 3 years, you have been just making excuses @MSBADAL. If it is that difficult for you, why not quit instead of making people pay? We never faulted on salaries & social welfare schemes because people's lives are sacrosanct. But for you, they are collateral damage.”
“Congress ministers are now proudly receiving awards for infra projects created in the SAD-BJP regime. It satisfies me to see our work benefiting people. But can you @MSBADAL name a single project of your govt which added a feather to the state's cap?” tweeted Sukhbir in series of tweets.
Hitting back in a series of tweets, Manpreet tweeted, “Sukhbir Ji @officeofssbadal. Coming from someone who left Punjab with 31000 cr CCL debt which you signed one day before counting of votes, and mortgaged the future of Punjab forever….Coming from someone @officeofssbadal who signed of future revenues of Punjab Mandi Board, PIDB, & PUDA to satisfy his ego and adding to Punjab’s debt….Coming from someone @officeofssbadal during whose government social security was always in arrears.”