LUDHIANA:Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari today demanded a white paper on the financial situation in the state. He said, the Punjab government so far has been in denial mode only making everybody believe that all is well. “Or it appears to be blissfully ignorant as what is in store for the state”, he cautioned.
Quoting news reports based on RTI information provided by the state government itself, Tewari pointed out, it is official that the state government has either sold its properties or mortgaged these to get money for its day to day needs. “No government can be run this way”, he pointed out, while expressing serious concern about the financial mess in the state.
The Minister, who represents Ludhiana parliamentary constituency, said, it is not a matter of political posturing, but the harsh reality that the Punjabeconomy is progressively declining and day may not be far when the state goes bankrupt. “The state government needs to act before it is too late”, he warned, while adding, denial mode was no defense.
He said, instead of continuously remaining in the denial mode, the state government should produce a white paper on the state of economy and spell out the measures for reviving it. “This government either appears to have given up or is blissfully ignorant about the economic crisis that is staring the state on its face”, Tewari warned, while adding, this may have a cascading effect and the government may not be able to control the situation any more.