Chandigarh, September 16: In March, when the Congress took over the reins of government, it was on the back of a stupendous victory. More than the party, it was a personal conquest for Capt Amarinder Singh. Many in Punjab hoped to see a fresh beginning for governance.
Six months down the line, the masses in the state are getting restless as the promised goods don’t seem to be arriving fast enough. To be fair, the government started off by rolling out major administrative reforms, but it has failed to get many of them off the board.
With good reason, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal pin much of their frustration on the fiscal mess left behind by the previous Akali-BJP government, besides GST. But politics is about people’s perception, and they have little care for the limitations of the government.
Farm loan waiver has not been implemented as promised; salaries and social security pensions are not paid regularly; development works have come to a stop; and there has been a flip-flop on whether to impose new taxes. The ills of the previous government — transport, sand and liquor mafia — persist; only that members of the present-day ruling party have gained stakes. Red beacons may have gone, but they have been replaced by escort vehicles and new emblems on VIP registration plates.
News Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com
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