Chandigarh, January 27 (K.L. Jit Walia): The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Trade Wing on Monday demanded that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government disclose complete details of the funds collected from trade and industry for the Chardi Kala Fund. The Wing also questioned why no compensation had been given to farmers affected by floods from this fund.
A meeting of the Trade Wing’s Core Committee was held here under the chairmanship of its president, N.K. Sharma. Addressing the media after the meeting, Sharma accused the AAP government of forcibly collecting money from traders and industrialists and of allegedly providing shelter to gangsters.
He said that following the devastating floods last year, the state government had created the Chardi Kala Fund and pressured the trade and industry sector to contribute to it. “More than six months have passed since the fund was created, but the government has not made public how much money has been collected. Not only should the total collection be disclosed, but Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann must also explain why no money from this fund has been released for flood-affected farmers,” Sharma said.
Taking strong exception to what he termed “forced recoveries” from trade and industry, Sharma alleged that excise and taxation officials had been instructed to conduct eight raids every month and impose penalties of at least Rs 8 lakh per raid. “This is apart from the extortion being carried out by gangsters who, we allege, are being protected by the AAP government, as is evident from the government’s statement in court claiming it has no evidence against notorious gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria,” he added. According to him, these policies are leading to capital flight from Punjab.
Highlighting the reasons for industries moving out of the state, Trade Wing leaders Rajinder Singh Marwah, Harpal Singh Ahluwalia, Prem Kumar Arora and Mohit Gupta also raised concerns over high electricity tariffs in Punjab, which have risen to Rs 9–10 per unit for the industrial sector. “When industry is getting power at Rs 5 per unit in Baddi, why would it stay in Punjab?” they asked. The members also demanded an end to “Inspector Raj” and criticized the government for not implementing the One Time Settlement relief scheme started by the previous SAD government.
The meeting also condemned the AAP government and its minister Aman Arora for moving a proposal in the Assembly to allow the killing of cows in the state. It was further stated that it was equally condemnable that the Congress party agreed to discuss the proposal. The Trade Wing alleged that funds collected as Gau Cess were not being released to gaushalas and demanded immediate disbursement.
N.K. Sharma announced that the Trade Wing would soon meet the Governor of Punjab to apprise him of the problems being faced by trade and industry in the state. He also said that a vision document would be released shortly, along with a timeline to expand the organization up to constituency, circle and village levels.
Those present at the meeting included Amit Kapoor, R.D. Sharma, Rajinder Singh Marwah, Ranjit Singh Khurana, Sanjeev Talwar, Parmjeet Singh Makkar, Harjit Singh, Advocate Parambir Singh Sunny and Sanjeev Shaury.
KL JIT WALIA
