Tarn Taran: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for putting an unprecedented burden on the common man and farmers by repeatedly increasing VAT on petrol and diesel, including the latest hike which has made petrol and diesel amongst the costliest in the region.
In a statement issued today, he demanded an immediate withdrawal of the arbitrary increase, the SAD president said instead of causing misery to the common man the government should save money by putting the brakes on its multi hundred crore advertising spend. “There won’t be any need to raise additional resources as is being asserted by the AAP government if it ends its reckless advertisements as well as publicity gimmicks”.
Sukhbir Badal who was here to attend the bhog ceremony of senior leader Harmeet Singh Sandhu’s father Surjit Singh Sandhu, said on the one hand the government was claiming that it was giving 300 units free power but on the other it had severely pruned several social welfare benefits including old age pension scheme, aata – daal scheme, Shagun scheme and SC Scholarship scheme. It has also put an end to free cycles for girls scheme, Teerath Yatra scheme, free utensils scheme, gyms as well as Suvidha Kendras and Sewa Kendras. Now it has increased VAT on petrol and diesel. This only shows the duplicitous nature of this government which is taxing the people above and beyond the benefits extended to them. It is a true case of giving with one hand and taking back with two”, he asserted.
Badal also congratulated the 10 students of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, Mohali who have been commissioned into the armed forces yesterday. He said he was proud that the academy, which had been established by former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, was making Punjab and Punjabis proud. “As many as 136 students of this Institute have been commissioned into the armed forces which has reignited Punjabi contribution to the forces, especially in the officer’s category”. He offered his heartiest congratulations to the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Preparatory Institute on the occasion.
