Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab has strongly criticized the Union Budget, accusing the Centre of once again ignoring the state’s interests. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the Budget has failed to meet Punjab’s expectations, offering no MSP guarantee for farmers, no employment assurance for youth, and no relief for industry or taxation. He said the Centre has taken no concrete steps to strengthen Punjab’s economy, repeating what he called unfair treatment towards the state. CM Mann added that Punjabis are hardworking and resilient, and despite continued neglect by the Centre, the AAP government and the people of Punjab will unite to rebuild the state and make it economically strong on their own.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian termed the Budget a major disappointment for farmers, especially in Punjab and Haryana. Cheema said the Centre has ignored farmers’ legitimate concerns by refusing to increase the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund or strengthen mandi infrastructure, exposing its hollow claims of being farmer-friendly. Khuddian said the Budget offers no clear MSP roadmap beyond wheat and rice, no support for crop diversification, and no relief for farmers affected by repeated floods, despite Punjab’s crucial role in filling the nation’s food granary.
Other AAP leaders, including Aman Arora, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Lalchand Kataruchakk, Dr Ravjot and Neel Garg, accused the BJP-led Centre of step-motherly treatment and open discrimination against Punjab. They said the Budget is heavy on claims but empty in substance, with no major projects, no support for farmers, youth or industry, and no real relief for common people struggling with inflation. AAP leaders asserted that Punjab and its people deserve fairness, respect and genuine support, not repeated neglect and empty promises.
