Jalandhar April 17:
Terming
Punjab as the most 'corrupt' state in the country, People's Party of
Punjab leader Manpreet Badal accused the state finance minister of
acting as merely the 'munim' (accountant) of the government.
"Punjab
is the most corrupt state in the country. The people looting the state
are being actively shielded by the ministers," said Manpreet Badal, the
former state finance minister. He was speaking to reporters after the
ending of the two day 'Chintan Shivir' of his party here. Terming the
state economy as 'weak' the former minister said the finance minister
alone can't be blamed as he was helpless and doesn't have any powers.
'The
finance minister can't be blamed for the sorry condition of state
exchequer. He maybe the only finance minister in the country who doesn't
have the Excise and Taxation division under him. He is merely acting as
the 'munim' (accountant) of the government,' he added. He claimed that
the state will be under more than one lakh crore debt by the year end,
adding, the government needs to regulate its expenses and end the VIP
culture in the state.
Blasting
the SAD-BJP government for its recent 'Chintan Shivir' in Goa, he said
the employees are not getting their wages while those in power are
enjoying "leisure trips". "Petrol and electricity are very expensive in
the state, and even then excessive VAT is being levied on them," he
said. On the issue of electing the Lokayukta, he said, a person from
outside the state should be given the post.
