Randhawa expresses concern over Punjab’s rising debt

Chandigarh: Senior Congress leader and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has expressed serious concern over the loan of Rs 1,500 crore taken by the AAP-led Punjab govt at the beginning of the new financial year (2026-27).Randhawa said with this fresh borrowing, the total debt of the state crossed Rs 4 lakh crore and was likely to reach around Rs 4.75 lakh crore by the end of the year. He alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party govt was pushing Punjab towards a financial emergency. Development works have stalled, and the debt burden per citizen has risen to over Rs 1.26 lakh, the former deputy CM of Punjab added.Randhawa further said, according to official figures, the state's debt had increased by more than Rs 1.33 lakh crore during the tenure of the AAP govt. A major portion of this borrowing is being used to service past liabilities and to fund free electricity and subsidies. To fulfil the promise of 300 units of free electricity, the govt is providing over Rs 20,400 crore annually as subsidy to the power utility, he said.The parliamentarian further expressed concern that Punjab's farmers, who were considered the backbone of the nation, had now become the most indebted on a per-farmer basis in the country.Criticising the govt's priorities, Randhawa alleged that instead of focusing on public welfare, funds were being spent on political showmanship. MSID:: 130088396 413 |