CHANDIGARH – Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar hailed the Union Budget on Monday as a visionary blueprint inspired by Guru Ravidas’s philosophy of equality. He described it as a solid step toward building a ‘Viksit Bharat,’ laying a robust foundation for inclusive progress.
Speaking to reporters here, Jakhar criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress for failing to grasp the budget’s true intent due to their limited economic insight. He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally highlighted on Sunday how cities like Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Moga, and Firozpur stand to gain immensely, accelerating their development trajectories.
Jakhar directly questioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann: When did you last meet the Prime Minister to advocate for Punjab’s demands? He dismissed Mann’s claims that the state got nothing from the budget as factually incorrect. Before the budget presentation, Punjab’s finance minister attended a meeting chaired by the Union Finance Minister but raised no specific proposals for development or budget allocations—only requesting an increase in the state’s borrowing limit.
Under PM Modi’s leadership, this budget will inject new momentum into equality and development, Jakhar asserted. During his Sunday visit to Dera Ballan, Modi elaborated on the positive impacts for Punjab. Yet, Jakhar accused Mann of avoiding a meeting with the PM out of fear of Arvind Kejriwal, flouting established protocols even during the Punjab tour.
Had the Chief Minister engaged directly, Punjab could have secured additional benefits, Jakhar noted. On budget specifics, he explained that funds for crop diversification and high-value crops would flow once the state submits viable plans. The Centre has already allocated substantial resources for fisheries, animal husbandry, and fertilizer subsidies.
The ‘Khelo India’ initiative will boost sports nationwide, with much of the equipment manufactured in Jalandhar—directly benefiting the state, Jakhar emphasized. Furthermore, the India-EU trade agreement promises major gains for Punjab’s MSMEs, textiles, and sports industries, positioning the state for economic surge.