Chandigarh: Industry and Commerce Minister Madan Mohan Mittal recently hit out at the Shiromani Akali Dal for advocating their own vote bank of farmers and ignoring industry, a vote bank of his party, BJP.
“While Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal seems to be concentrating only on getting new industrial investment, as Industry Minister, I have to look after the existing industry, which is facing its worst-ever crisis in Punjab. Industry in the state bravely faced and survived terrorism, but due to lack of support, industrial units in Mandi Gobindgarh and Ludhiana are closing down. People whose units have been taken over and auctioned are still being asked to pay huge amounts as pending dues on loans,” said Mittal.
Mittal's comments received a comeback from the Punjab Congress as they held BJP equally responsible for the sad situation of industry in the state. “Mere admission is not going to absolve the BJP from bad day of industries, as the BJP cabinet ministers are equally responsible for anti-industry decision which the Punjab government has taken,” said Mohindra.
He pointed out how the Punjab Cabinet imposed heavy taxes on the industry and business, in a meeting where Mittal and other BJP ministers were present. “Don't shed crocodile tears, as the public knows that the BJP is equally responsible for bad days of the Punjab Industry,” Mohindra said.
He said as Mittal has now taken to blast the SAD government and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal, he should come up with a white paper stating why the industry from Punjab is closing down. He also said the Congress in the coming assembly session will seek a detailed debate on the industrial scenario of Punjab and expose how the SAD-BJP misrule badly affected the industrial scenario of Punjab.
