Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) and the Member of Parliament from Ludhiana, today led a massive protest against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, condemning the recent hike in electricity prices across Punjab following the removal of the subsidy for consumption below 7KW.
Addressing the gathering, Warring lambasted the AAP for betraying the trust of the people, stating, "The Aam Aadmi Party, which claims to be the government of the common man, has done nothing but impose financial burdens on the very people they promised to protect.The removal of the electricity subsidy that Congress had provided for consumption below 7KW has directly impacted 90-95% of Punjab’s population, raising electricity rates by ₹3 per unit.
This is nothing short of a betrayal."He further highlighted the plight of the industrial sector under the AAP regime, noting, "During the Congress tenure, industrial electricity was available at a basic rate of ₹5 per unit, and even after all taxes, it was approximately ₹8.65 per unit. Now, under the AAP government, the same electricity costs around ₹11 per unit.
This exorbitant rate is driving industries out of Punjab, causing severe economic decline in the state. The AAP is not just failing to fulfill its promises but is actively ruining our state’s economy." The PPCC Chief did not hold back in criticizing the financial mismanagement of the AAP government.
It has been over two years, and the AAP government has accumulated a debt of ₹61,000 crore, with plans to take on an additional ₹30,000 crore. This reckless borrowing is placing immense pressure on the people of Punjab, and it is the future generations who will bear the brunt of this mismanagement. We warned about this, and now we are already witnessing the consequences with the rise in taxes on petroleum and diesel," he said.
He also took a dig at the AAP's extravagant spending on self-promotion, pointing out, "Our money is being wasted on advertisements, with ₹900 crore spent just to plaster CM Bhagwant Mann's face across the state. No previous government had such an outrageous advertisement budget.
In just three years, this so-called 'Badlaav' government has taken on ₹91,000 crore in debt, far surpassing the ₹75,000 crore debt taken by the Congress in five years. They have even requested an additional debt limit of ₹10,000 crore from the Centre. This government is financially unstable and has resorted to squeezing every penny from the common man and the middle class of Punjab."
In a scathing remark, Warring exposed the AAP's lack of genuine development, stating, "Every project they have unveiled as their achievement was initiated by the Congress government. All they have done is repaint old facilities and present them as new. Is this the 'Badlaav' they promised? The AAP government has failed to deliver any real progress and is only interested in fulfilling their personal agendas."
Concluding his address, Warring vowed to continue the fight against the injustices perpetrated by the AAP and the Central government. "We will continue to fight for Punjab and be the voice of the people against this unjust AAP government. We will work tirelessly for the betterment of our state. Stay strong, Punjab – we are your voice, whether in the Parliament or in the streets, protesting against these unjust governments."
The PPCC Chief was joined by prominent Congress leaders including Dr. Dharamvir Gandhi Ji, Rana Gurjeet Singh Ji, Balbir Singh Sidhu Ji, Madan Lal Jalalpur Ji, Hardial Singh Kamboj Ji, Rajinder Singh Ji, Lakhvir Singh Lakha Ji, Balwinder Singh Bains Ji, Harpartap Singh Ajnala Ji, Jassi Khangura Ji, Harwinder Singh Khanaura Ji, Harinderpal Singh Harry Mann Ji, Rupinder Singh Raja Gill Ji, Gursharan Kaur Randhawa Ji, and Mohit Mohindra Ji as the protest echoed the outrage of the people of Punjab against the anti-common man policies of the AAP government.