Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema have called the Union Budget 2025 against Punjab. The Chief Minister said that Punjab was not given anything that would improve the future. Finance Minister Cheema said – since the BJP government came to power at the center, Punjab has been facing financial discrimination. This time too hopes were shattered and not a single penny was given to Punjab. During the Delhi election campaign, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann posted on his social media saying – Punjab was once again ignored in the budget presented by the central government. The central government has given nothing to Punjab's farmers and youth. Neither MSP was given by the center on crops to farmers, nor was any package given to the state for any industry. Punjab was not given anything that could improve its economic situation and future. This is just an election budget, which only has announcements for Bihar state. Once again in the budget, the central government has treated Punjab and Punjabis like step-children. But we will keep Punjab standing on its own feet through our own strength. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said that in the pre-budget meeting held in Jaisalmer, the Punjab government had raised several important issues related to the agriculture sector. These included MSP guarantee, promotion of agricultural diversification, special assistance for stubble management, and special package for farming. A memorandum regarding this was also given to the Union Finance Minister by the Punjab government, but not a single penny was given. Demand for Special Economic Package for Border Districts
Harpal Cheema said that Punjab is a border state, therefore a special package is needed for border districts so that youth can get employment. He demanded that Punjab should also be given an industrial package like Jammu and Kashmir. The central government neither considered it nor provided anything. Demand to strengthen police infrastructure
Additionally, the Punjab government had demanded 1000 crore rupees. Punjab shares a border of more than 500 km with Pakistan, so the demand was made to strengthen police infrastructure and improve security arrangements in border areas. However, considering border security, no budget was reserved in the budget. Farmers ignored – Sukhbir Former Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal said that the Union Budget 2025 ignores inclusive development and focuses on election states, neglecting large parts of the country including Punjab. It has also put the agricultural economy in crisis, as there is no legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and farmers' debts have not been waived. Given the plight of the agricultural sector across the country, a comprehensive agricultural loan waiver scheme was needed, but the government failed in this too. The people of Punjab were also hoping that crop diversification would be turned into reality by encouraging farmers to abandon paddy cultivation, but no funds were allocated for this either. The state needed funds for the rehabilitation of the canal irrigation system, but this was also denied. Additionally, youth, business and industry have also been ignored, as no concrete steps have been taken for job creation or improvement in the GST collection system.Original Article