Ludhiana:
In a strong condemnation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s latest policy decisions, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and Member of Parliament from Ludhiana, has lambasted the recent hike in the prices of petrol, diesel, and most significantly, electricity in Punjab.
The PPCC Chief has termed these hikes as a blatant betrayal of the common people, who are already grappling with the ever-increasing cost of living.
“The AAP government’s decision to raise electricity rates by ₹3 per unit is nothing short of outrageous,” Raja Warring declared. “While they continue to boast about providing the first 300 units of electricity for free, this steep hike for additional consumption creates a substantial financial burden on households. The illusion of relief offered by the initial free units is quickly shattered as families and businesses are forced to pay exorbitant rates beyond this limit.”
Raja Warring expressed deep concern over the impact of these hikes on the daily lives of ordinary citizens. “The increase in petrol by 61 paise per litre and diesel by 92 paise per litre will have a cascading effect on the prices of essential goods and services. This, combined with the sharp rise in electricity tariffs, will cripple the transportation sector, small businesses, and even farmers, who are already struggling under the weight of these new expenses.”
In a broader critique, the PPCC Chief emphasized, “The AAP government, under the guise of boosting state revenue, has been relentlessly imposing financial burdens on ordinary citizens. They have consistently opted to squeeze the common people, just to increase their expenditure on self-promotion and advertisements. Merely two weeks ago, they increased the motor vehicle tax, pushing the cost of cars and two-wheelers out of reach for the middle class and economically weaker sections.”
Raja Warring further criticized the AAP government, led by CM Bhagwant Mann, for continuing to adopt policies that are inherently against the interests of the common people, despite claiming to be a government “for the common man.” He accused the AAP of betraying the very citizens they vowed to serve, saying, “The AAP’s policies are systematically ruining the lives of the middle class and poor with every passing day. They pose as champions of the common man with their ‘Aam Aadmi’ tagline, yet they impose unbearable financial burdens on the people of Punjab.”
Moreover, the PPCC Chief pointed out that such significant policy measures should be introduced during a budget session in the Vidhan Sabha, where they can be thoroughly discussed and debated. “The state government is avoiding discussions on these crucial issues by bypassing the legislative process. Instead of presenting such hikes during the budget session, where opposition voices could hold them accountable, they implement these measures later, ensuring no resistance. This approach reveals their intent to avoid transparency and debate, focusing instead on self-praise during budget presentations.”
“The recent price hikes are not just an economic issue but a matter of survival for the people of Punjab,” Raja Warring emphasized. “We demand that the government immediately roll back these increases and reconsider its approach to governing a state already burdened by economic challenges. The people of Punjab will not tolerate such anti-people policies anymore.”