After Akali-BJP's constant criticism of the UPA government for not granting a special economic package to the state, Punjab Congress vice-president Brahm Mohindra on Sunday fired a salvo at the ruling SAD-BJP government over the issue.
Mohindra mocked the Akalis for union finance minister Arun Jaitley's denial of the special package to Punjab because of reasons such as power subsidy.
Mohindra said, "You misled the public by saying the chief minister will bring truck loads of currency notes as economic package using his personal relationship with the NDA when they form the government at the Centre. But, Jaitley refused to grant even a single penny to Punjab."
The CM and deputy CM should tell the public that it is the NDA which is meting out step-motherly treatment to Punjab and not the UPA, said the Congress MLA.
Mohindra said Akalis should apologise to Punjabis for making false promises. He also claimed that SAD-BJP legislators should extend gratitude to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi as the UPA gave maximum grant to Punjab, a fact acknowledged by Jaitley in his letter.
Punjab had lost the fight when the Badal family opted for a ministerial post in the NDA cabinet instead of bargaining for the economic package, as promised during the Lok Sabha campaign, Mohindra claimed.
{{/usCountry}}Punjab had lost the fight when the Badal family opted for a ministerial post in the NDA cabinet instead of bargaining for the economic package, as promised during the Lok Sabha campaign, Mohindra claimed.
{{/usCountry}}He also took a dig at the Akalis' coalition with the NDA and said, "After Jaitley's defeat, SAD-BJP ties have strained." It was evident, he said, as the Akalis are set to contest against the BJP in the Haryana assembly polls.