Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday criticised past governments in Punjab, accusing them of operating a corrupt “recovery system” that hindered industrial growth. Without naming specific parties, Kejriwal alleged that extortion and illegal collections drove companies out of the state.
Speaking at an event with industrialists in Chandigarh, Kejriwal said, “Before our government, there was a system of recovery in Punjab. People were wrongly charged money. But we have changed a lot in three years.”
He added that people were previously afraid to progress as they were forced to share stakes with powerful figures. “There were stories of those times when men were made to sit in front of factories for extortion. Flyover projects were stopped if donations were not paid. As a result, Punjab fell from number one to number 18,” he said.
Highlighting recent reforms, Kejriwal said the government is now stepping back and allowing industry stakeholders to take charge of policy-making. “For the first time, the government is giving up its rights to industrialists. Twenty-four committees have been formed to frame new industrial policies. These committees will now decide how to bring investment into Punjab,” he said. However, he urged members not to prioritise subsidies in their proposals.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also attended the event, echoed Kejriwal’s views. “We have changed the old rules. We are committed to providing every possible facility to industrialists,” Mann said, urging them to invest in Punjab.
