Tewari seeks white paper on state's economy

Union information and broadcasting minister and Ludhiana member of Parliament (MP) Manish Tewari on Monday demanded a white paper on the financial situation in the state.

Union information and broadcasting minister and Ludhiana member of Parliament (MP) Manish Tewari on Monday demanded a white paper on the financial situation in the state.

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He said the Punjab government so far had been in denial mode and was making everybody believe that all was well. “Or it appears to be blissfully ignorant as what is in store for the state,” he cautioned.

Quoting news reports based on RTI information provided by the state government itself, Tewari pointed out it was official that the state government had either sold its properties or mortgaged these to get money for its day-to-day needs. “No government can be run this way,” he pointed out, while expressing serious concern about the financial mess in the state.

The minister said it was not a matter of political posturing, but the harsh reality that Punjab’s economy was progressively declining and the day may not be far when the state went bankrupt.

“The state government needs to act before it is too late,” he warned, while adding that denial mode was no defence.

He said instead of continuously remaining in the denial mode, the state government should produce a white paper on the state of economy and spell out measures for reviving it.

“This government either appears to have given up or is blissfully ignorant about the economic crisis that is staring the state in its face,” Tewari warned, while adding that this might have a cascading effect and the government might not be able to control the situation anymore.