Punjab's Debt Dilemma: A Call for Transparency

Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has urged the Punjab government to issue a white paper detailing the state's escalating debt. Randhawa criticized the AAP government for increasing borrowing and warned of a potential financial crisis. He highlighted that this debt increase heavily burdens average citizens.

Congress MP and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has called on the state government to issue a white paper concerning Punjab's mounting debt levels. This request comes amid criticism aimed at the AAP government for its ongoing borrowing practices.

Randhawa, alarmed by a recent Rs 1,500 crore loan, warned that such fiscal strategies could lead the state into a financial crisis. He emphasized the necessity of transparency so that citizens can be informed about the state's true financial health.

He highlighted that Punjab's total debt has exceeded Rs 4 lakh crore and could reach Rs 4.47 lakh crore. According to Randhawa, the burden on citizens is immense, with each resident bearing an average debt of over Rs 1.25 lakh, a situation exacerbated by expenditures on salaries, pensions, electricity subsidies, and interest payments.

(With inputs from agencies.)