NO new taxes, no new proposals, no new expenditure and no incentives. That is the Punjab budget for you.
A little later after the state Finance Minister, Lal Singh read out the state budget today, he was asked the simple question, “where is the budget?” The FM chose not to reply. So what is contained in the budget? The achievements of the Punjab government, listed in regular media handouts, now compiled in the form of a booklet.
The Finance Minister says that he cannot impose new taxes, and that would be decided by the cabinet sub committee. He has no money for any new scheme, and “the financial situation is so bad that the state can offer no incentives”. Hence there are no new proposals.
A sampling of the replies that the FM gave to the media are telling. “Tax di chori te zor diyange” (We will concentrate on theft of taxes). Amidst an interruption and laughter, he corrected himself, that the state would try and prevent theft of taxes. And how is that? By use of computers, he says. And what does he hope to gain? An additional 1000 crore in Sales Tax itself. That is a different matter that the state failed miserably in ST collection last year, and the harassed finance minister and his group of officials spent a good 10 minutes trying to find out the exact ST collection. The budget off course is silent on all this.
The FM was asked the size of the budget. “It is there in the press note”, he said. But neither did he know nor could not find out. Finally the Finance secretary gave the figure, 29,830 crore.
Will more taxes be imposed? “I cannot say”, the FM said. Does the FM have the power to impose taxes? “The cabinet sub committee would decide”. Is the Johl committee report on resource mobilisation mean more taxes?.“Each department is analysing it”. When will taxes be imposed? “I cannot say”. Will taxes be imposed via a midnight notification after the session is over? “That was the allegation last year as well”.
Though the official press note ran into 15 pages, hardly 15 sentences were uttered at the media briefing following the budget.
A glance at the budget document is revealing. Many portions in Part A of the budget are repeated in part B of the budget. The last page of the budget has a small table which informs everyone that the revenue deficit is 3442 crore.
And if the document read like the one last year, give credit to the FM for introducing three minor expenditures this year. Despite a cash strapped government, a luxurious guest house shall be built at the cost of three crore in Chandigarh. Freedom fighters will get Rs 2500 per month instead of Rs 2000 , and 6600 persons would benefit from it. And last but not the least, Haj Committee would be provided two lakh instead of 1.05 lakh last year.
Bon voyage.

NO new taxes, no new proposals, no new expenditure and no incentives. That is the Punjab budget for you.
A little later after the state Finance Minister, Lal Singh read out the state budget today, he was asked the simple question, “where is the budget?” The FM chose not to reply. So what is contained in the budget? The achievements of the Punjab government, listed in regular media handouts, now compiled in the form of a booklet.
The Finance Minister says that he cannot impose new taxes, and that would be decided by the cabinet sub committee. He has no money for any new scheme, and “the financial situation is so bad that the state can offer no incentives”. Hence there are no new proposals.
A sampling of the replies that the FM gave to the media are telling. “Tax di chori te zor diyange” (We will concentrate on theft of taxes). Amidst an interruption and laughter, he corrected himself, that the state would try and prevent theft of taxes. And how is that? By use of computers, he says. And what does he hope to gain? An additional 1000 crore in Sales Tax itself. That is a different matter that the state failed miserably in ST collection last year, and the harassed finance minister and his group of officials spent a good 10 minutes trying to find out the exact ST collection. The budget off course is silent on all this.
The FM was asked the size of the budget. “It is there in the press note”, he said. But neither did he know nor could not find out. Finally the Finance secretary gave the figure, 29,830 crore.
Will more taxes be imposed? “I cannot say”, the FM said. Does the FM have the power to impose taxes? “The cabinet sub committee would decide”. Is the Johl committee report on resource mobilisation mean more taxes?.“Each department is analysing it”. When will taxes be imposed? “I cannot say”. Will taxes be imposed via a midnight notification after the session is over? “That was the allegation last year as well”.
Though the official press note ran into 15 pages, hardly 15 sentences were uttered at the media briefing following the budget.
A glance at the budget document is revealing. Many portions in Part A of the budget are repeated in part B of the budget. The last page of the budget has a small table which informs everyone that the revenue deficit is 3442 crore.
And if the document read like the one last year, give credit to the FM for introducing three minor expenditures this year. Despite a cash strapped government, a luxurious guest house shall be built at the cost of three crore in Chandigarh. Freedom fighters will get Rs 2500 per month instead of Rs 2000 , and 6600 persons would benefit from it. And last but not the least, Haj Committee would be provided two lakh instead of 1.05 lakh last year.
Bon voyage.

While the entire electoral focus is on the Patiala and Lambi seat where the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal are contesting the elections, there are some mini battles that are more interesting.
The broad estimate this time is that Majha and Doaba (surprisingly yes) is going the Akali way, while the Congress is making inroads in the Malwa belt.

Seats to watch out during these Punjab elections are :

Kahnuwan: Will Partap Singh Bajwa manage to ward off anti incumbency and harp on his PWD works to win the election. With almost the entire Majha tilting towards the Akalis, is this the seat which will be denied to Sewa Singh Sekhwan? On the other hand the factor that goes against Partap is the number of cases registered against his political opponents in the constituency.

Dhuri: With Gaganjit Singh Barnala under a cloud, and his bete noir Dhanwant Singh Dhuri remaining in the news as well, will both be pipped by an independent? And how will Barnala rank in the final tally?

Dakala: Is the Tohra legacy powerful enough to stop Lal Singh? Is this Harmel’s final lap?

Muktsar: Will Bhai Harnirpal Singh Kuku get enough sympathy to defeat both Congressman Avtar Singh Brar and independent turned Akali turned Congressman turned Akali, Sukhdarshan Singh Marar?

Faridkot: Will Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon retain his seat? Despite his lineage and popularity, will the Sukhbir factor play spoilsport for him?

Lehra: Between Bhattal and Chandumajra, voters have a very difficult choice?

Jalandhar: Well the entire Jalandhar. Will Henry, Gurkanwal and even Chaudhry Jagjit (Kartarpur) be able to thwart the inroads made by Akalis into Doaba?