Union budget did not provide anything to accelerate Punjab’s economy or address its challenges vis a vis agriculture, farmer distress or flood relief, youth employment and industry rejuvenation: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today called out the systematic exclusion of Punjab in the last ten union budgets, even as she asserted Budget 2026-27 did not provide any measure to accelerate the State’s economy or address any of its challenges be agriculture and farmer distress or funds for flood relief, youth employment and industry rejuvenation.

Speaking on the budget in parliament, the Bathinda MP said even though Punjab had contributed water, land, labour and youth to India yet it faced economic decline, farmer distress, flood devastation and youth and drug crisis. She demanded release of flood compensation to farmers, making MSP a legal guarantee, encouraging the industrial sector by establishing an industrial corridor with special focus on leather, sports and textile industry, giving the State a package to revive its economy, creation of a drug rehabilitation fund and creating a tourism circuit.

Asserting that the slogan “Sabka Vikas” remained an empty slogan as far as Punjab was concerned, Mrs Harsimrat Badal said even though Punjab’s growth was declining rapidly and its share in the national GSDP and even its debt to GDP ratio had declined drastically, no targeted support was given to the State.

Speaking about the agriculture sector in Punjab, Mrs Badal said the sector was facing an unprecedented crisis due to debt and suicides. She said the promise of making MSP a legal guarantee had not been implemented even as the fertilizer subsidy had been reduced and the trade deal with the United States was also expected to affect farmers adversely. She also highlighted how farmers were suffering due to the central government’s statement that it had given Rs 12,500 crore to the State which should be used to compensate farmers even as the Aam Aadmi Party government asserted it had no such money in its account. “Central ministers engaged in flood tourism with repetitive tours to Punjab in 2025 but released nothing to the farmers”.

Asserting that the purported Reforms Express of the central government had not reached Punjab, Mrs Badal said the State was contributing Rs 2000 crore to the central pool but getting virtually nothing in return. She said the Attari border with Pakistan had been closed crippling trade even as the Gujarat sea routes were open. She said similarly cricket matches had been started with Pakistan but the Kartarpur Corridor remained closed. She also highlighted how industry was migrating from Punjab as no incentive was being given to it in comparison to neighbouring States. She also mentioned that the sheller industry in Punjab was suffering due to delay in milling and transfer of food grains from Punjab and how shopkeepers were being harassed due to GST rules.

Mrs Badal also highlighted the damage narco terrorism was doing to Punjab. She said Punjab was suffering with most drug overdose deaths occurring in the country. “An average of 24 drones coming in from Pakistan with a huge quantity of drugs are seized every month but no funds have been released to Punjab under the Central Narcotics Assistance Scheme”.

The SAD leader also spoke on how nothing was given to Punjab to strengthen its health and education sectors even as the marginalized had been ignored on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ravidas ji.