Chandigarh, February 1, 2025 – Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has expressed disappointment over the Union Budget 2025, alleging that the BJP-led central government has once again ignored Punjab. Describing it as an “election budget,” Mann claimed that the Centre focused only on Bihar while neglecting crucial demands from Punjab.
Lack of Support for Farmers and Industry
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mann criticized the budget for failing to address the concerns of farmers and the youth in Punjab.
“The Union government has not given anything to the farmers and youngsters of Punjab. The Centre has neither announced MSP for farmers nor provided any financial package for industries in Punjab.”
Punjab has long demanded a legally guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for its agricultural sector, which forms the backbone of the state’s economy. However, the budget did not include any MSP-related provisions.
‘Stepmotherly Treatment to Punjab’
Mann accused the central government of showing “stepmotherly treatment” to Punjab while prioritizing other states.
“This budget is only an election budget, where all major announcements are for Bihar. Punjab has been ignored once again.”
Despite the lack of support from the Centre, Mann assured that the AAP-led Punjab government would work towards making the state self-sufficient.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the eighth budget of her tenure on Saturday, with a special focus on infrastructure, digital economy, and state-wise allocations. However, opposition leaders, including Mann, have raised concerns over regional imbalances in fund distribution.
The debate over Punjab’s economic and agricultural challenges is likely to intensify as political parties gear up for the upcoming elections.
