The Battle of Punjab assembly will be held on 4 February 2017. The three dominantly participating parties, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Akali Dal have made an ample number of promises to the state.
Captain Amarinder of Congress, has said, taking a dig at the Akali Dal government, that not a single public subsidy would be withdrawn by the Congress government, if voted in power.
He has guaranteed free power to farm sectors and lower power tariff for industries, as reported by Economic times. He also promised reinvestigation into drugs rackets of Punjab.
Congress’s manifesto promises unemployment allowance of Rs 2,500 per month and free education for women from class 1 to PhD.
Citing incidents of burning and tearing of the holy texts, such as Guru Granth Sahib, the Bhagwad Geeta, the holy Quran, etc, Captain Amarinder also announced his plans to impose penalties on religious sacrilege.
Aam Admi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal too has taken the same stand on religious sacrilege. He promised 80 per cent reservation in all new industries for the 25 lakh unemployed Punjabi youth.
He claims that AAP will wipe drugs out of Punjab in 4 weeks.
In addition to reforms in education and health sectors, he also said that widow and handicapped pension will be increased from Rs 500 to Rs 2,500 per month and free wi-fi hotspots will be installed in villages.
AAP promises implementation of 6th pay panel report.
With over 30% of Dalit population, Kejriwal has also said that the Deputy CM for Punjab, if AAP is elected, will be a Dalit.
Parkash Singh Badal announced the Akali Dal-BJP government, if re-elected, would take Sikhs on a free pilgrimage to Sikh shrines in Pakistan, as reported by Indian express.
BJP had promised a 50% profit over the input costs, which could have given relief to lakhs of farmers. However, Daily post reported that this was ruled out by BJP’s union agricultural minister Radha Mohan Singh.
With respect to debt ridden farmers committing suicide, he said there are no plans of debt waiver for them. He rather suggested that Badal government should just offer loans to the farmers at zero percent interest.
The monopolisation of business opportunities particularly in cable, mining and transport, by the Badals is a great conflict of interest. It is also reported to have closed down employment.
Despite the misuse of state machinery, the officials are often afraid of acting against the illegal businesses, because they’re owned by Akali leaders. Many SAD-BJP government leaders have been accused of being involved in narcotics trade in Punjab.
