Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Senior Spokesperson Neel Garg has firmly refuted the misleading claims made by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal regarding power tariffs and industrial policies in Punjab. Setting the record straight, Garg highlighted the SAD-BJP regime's abysmal track record and contrasted it with the transformative governance under the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government.
Garg stated, “The Day Tariff, which Mr. Badal is lamenting about, was introduced in 2017 during the Congress government, not under AAP's administration. The Akali Dal-BJP government left behind a legacy of corruption, inefficiency, and debt. We inherited this mess and have worked tirelessly to clean it up.”
According to Garg under the SAD-BJP regime, industries were charged ₹8.75 per unit (inclusive of charges), endured frequent unscheduled power cuts, and faced rampant corruption. In stark contrast, the AAP government has prioritised affordable power, no power cuts, transparent governance, free electricity to the farmers, schools, hospitals and employment.
Garg said, "Over 90% of small industries now benefit from subsidized electricity. Power cuts are rare and always announced in advance. Free and uninterrupted electricity for farmers has been ensured, benefitting Punjab's agrarian economy.
Garg dismissed Badal’s accusations as baseless and urged him to reflect on the SAD-BJP government’s failures, including the routine harassment of businesses through corruption and arbitrary policies. “Our government has ushered in an era of transparency, accountability, and delivery.
We have transformed government schools, strengthened governance, and are repaying the inherited debt from previous regimes.” Garg said that the AAP government remains committed to fostering an environment where industries thrive.
By prioritizing uninterrupted power supply and transparent policies, the Bhagwant Mann-led administration has already set the foundation for sustainable growth. Garg concluded, “The People of Punjab are not easily swayed by falsehoods.
The Akali Dal made headlines with promises; we are making history with delivery. It’s time Mr. Badal stops trying to rewrite history and starts addressing the failures of his party.”