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Former Punjab Chief Minister and congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh said that Congress party was not opposed to unbundling of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) since it is being done under Electricity Act. He however said that due consideration shall be given to the model to be adopted to give new look to the PSEB. But he had supported subsidies given to agriculture and some other sectors by state government evn though Electricity Act opposes it.

Addressing a press conference, Amarinder Singh said that if economic position of state was sound there is no harm in giving subsidies to the certain sections. He said that after all it's the people's money and shall be spent on welfare of people.

Amarinder Singh said that Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal was giving statements that subsidies shall be discontinued but he is not taking decisive stand. He should told the Chief Minister firmly about the fiscal health of state. He added that his government had stopped subsidies for two years to stabalise the economy of state and later when they were comfortable, the subsidies were started again.

He however said that Punjab was caught in a debt trap and poor governance by Akalis was responsible for it. He said that present government didn't have enough funds to pay salaries of its staff. He said that state government was selling securities worth Rs.400 per month to run the government. The state is under debt of Rs.60,000 crores.

Firmer Chief Minister said that Badal government had performed poorly on power front. He said that power situation was same during Congress rule but they supplied full power to agriculture and industrial sector. He saaid that his government had made purchases to meet the situation.

He also opposed SAD-BJP government decision to cancel the MoU with Reliance for opening of chain of stores in Punjab to market vegetables. He said that Reliance has 23,000 stores all over country. He said that it would have been to the benefit of farmers. He also supported payment of crops to farmers through Ahrtiyas.

source - punjabnewsline