Chandigarh: The Budget session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly resumed on Monday with intense exchanges between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and opposition leaders after the presentation of the state’s Rs 2.6 lakh crore budget.
During the proceedings, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the state is likely to receive a major industrial investment from the Tata Group. According to him, the proposed project would be the second-largest Tata venture in Punjab and is expected to generate around 4,000 employment opportunities once operational.
The debate in the Assembly began with AAP minister Baljinder Kaur moving the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address delivered earlier by Gulab Chand Kataria. Soon after, Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa criticised several aspects of the budget, voicing concerns over delays in implementing key welfare promises.
Among the issues raised by the opposition was the government’s pledge to provide Rs 1,000 per month to women, which Bajwa claimed had yet to be fulfilled.
Responding to the criticism, Mann defended his government’s performance and highlighted achievements in the healthcare sector. He stated that the state’s Aam Aadmi Clinics have collectively recorded more than five crore patient visits since their launch.
The chief minister said his administration is gradually accelerating development initiatives and claimed that visible progress is beginning to emerge across sectors. He added that the government aims to further strengthen economic growth and welfare programmes in the coming years.
The ongoing Budget session is expected to witness further debate as opposition parties continue to question policy decisions and implementation of the government’s flagship schemes.
