Punjab Leaders Criticize Union Budget for Ignoring State’s Needs
The Union Budget 2025, as presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, has sparked widespread discontent among Punjab’s political leadership, with multiple leaders across party lines expressing disappointment over the state’s exclusion from key allocations. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, along with other prominent leaders, criticized the budget for failing to address Punjab’s pressing concerns, particularly in agriculture, industry, and youth employment.
Bhagwant Mann: Punjab Overlooked Again
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took to social media to voice his dissatisfaction with the budget, calling it an “election budget” that focused only on Bihar while neglecting Punjab. He stated, “The central government has not given anything to the farmers and youth of Punjab. Neither the MSP on crops was granted to the farmers, nor was any industry package provided to the state. Punjab has not received anything to improve its economic and future prospects. Once again, the central government has treated Punjab and Punjabis as an afterthought. But we will keep Punjab standing on our own feet.”
Opposition Joins the Chorus of Criticism
Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla also expressed outrage over Punjab’s exclusion from the budget, calling it a case of “shocking neglect.” In a post on X, he stated, “While other states receive allocations, Punjab gets NOTHING. This injustice will not be ignored!”
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema further elaborated on the concerns, highlighting that despite submitting a detailed memorandum outlining Punjab’s needs in the pre-budget meeting, none of the demands were addressed. received nothing; rather, it was completely ignored. Punjab is primarily an agricultural state, yet neither its farmers nor its industries were considered. As a border state with a 500-km-long boundary with Pakistan, Punjab deserved allocations to strengthen its forces and upgrade its police stations. However, we will not beg from the Center; we will improve on our own and move forward.”
Akali Dal Leaders Condemn Budget as Anti-Farmer
Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal criticized the budget for being focused solely on Bihar, stating, “Look at the names of the states—Bihar, which is going to elections. Only Bihar, Bihar, Bihar. There was no mention of Punjab. Farmers are sitting in protest for the past four years over the legal guarantee for MSP. What did they announce for farmers? Makhana Board. This was an anti-farmer budget. Farmers who are fighting for their rights were not heard, and this is sad.”
Her party’s president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, echoed similar sentiments, slamming the budget for its failure to support Punjab’s agrarian economy. “The Union Budget 2025 misses out on inclusive development and concentrates on poll-bound states, ignoring large portions of the country, including Punjab. It has imperiled the agrarian economy by not providing a legal guarantee on MSP nor waiving off farmer loans. Farmers were hoping for incentives to move away from paddy cultivation and much-needed funds for canal irrigation upgrades. However, the budget failed to address these critical issues. Youth, trade, and industry have also been ignored, with no push to generate employment or reform GST collection.”
A Growing Resentment Against Centre’s Policies
The widespread dissatisfaction expressed by Punjab’s leaders underscores the growing resentment against what they perceive as a pattern of neglect by the central government. With Punjab being an agrarian state that plays a crucial role in India’s food security, the lack of support for its farmers and industries has fueled further criticism.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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