Ludhiana, 12 January (Nis)
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said at the inauguration of the One Time Settlement Scheme here today that despite the Corona epidemic and and the central government not giving part of Punjab to GST and Rural Development Fund, Punjab did not take an overdraft. He was addressing a function held at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here today. The Finance Minister said that the hard work of Punjabis and their Chief Minister in Captain Amarinder Singh
Being confident, Punjab is moving towards sustained economic growth. Punjab Minister for Food and Supplies Department Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Public Works Department Minister Vijender Singla and Punjab Congress President Sunil Jakhar were also present on the occasion.

Taking a dig at the central government, the finance minister alleged that the Modi government is discriminating against Punjab. He said that UAE set up three food parks in India but the central government did not allot one of them to Punjab. According to him the UAE government also wished that a food park should be set up in Punjab as well. Inaugurating the One Time Settlement Scheme, he said that it would benefit 47000 traders. State Congress President Sunil Jakhar also attacked the Center strongly, saying that those people in the center formulate policies related to agriculture, which have no knowledge of agriculture. Thanking the speakers, Bharat Bhushan Ashu said that the development works in Ludhiana are going on loudly. He said that the promises made by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to the public during the elections are being fulfilled.
He also said that a cost of Rs 820 crores has been started to clean and beautify the old stream of Ludhiana and out of that the first installment of Rs 320 crores has been received by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation. This amount was made available by the Punjab government and will be made Purana Budha Dariya.
It is noteworthy that earlier the ceremony was presided over by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh but which was abruptly canceled today.