Winter session of Punjab Assembly begins today, opposition to attack government on mining, rising debt on state
Chandigarh News: The fifth winter session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha begins on Tuesday in which the AAP government will bring five bills. Three money bills have already been given prior assent by the governor.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Revenue Minister Brahm Shankar Jimpa will table the bills in the House. This is the fifth session after the Supreme Court’s November 10 verdict and the session is likely to give a glimpse of the improving relations between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Governor Banwarilal Purohit. However, the session is expected to be stormy.
The Chief Minister is also likely to announce a hike in sugarcane prices during the session. The two-day winter session will begin at 2 pm tomorrow with tributes being paid to the departed personalities. This will be followed by legislative business at 2.30 pm.
The main opposition Congress has pulled up the AAP government during the winter session to corner the state on the issue of financial health, law and order and mining. The opposition will also raise the issue of loans taken by the AAP government.
The AAP government has taken a loan of Rs 20,457.93 crore in the seven months of the current financial year and similarly during the year 2022-23, the government had taken a loan of Rs 30,899.81 crore. So far, a new debt of Rs 51,357.74 crore has been incurred on Punjab during the AAP rule.
The issue of corruption will be raised by the ruling party to put the opposition MLAs in the dock. The AAP government will discuss its achievements and also talk about timely payment of subsidies. The recent smooth procurement of paddy will also be projected as an achievement.
There is also a possibility that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann may corner the opposition in the House on the issue of river waters by presenting the report of the open debate ‘Main Punjab Bolda’ program held in Ludhiana on November 1.