New Delhi: For as long as the generations of Punjab can remember, issues like religion, Khalistan propaganda, caste, class and cross-border terrorism have been at the centre of state's politics. However, assembly elections in 2022 are different from the past electoral battles here and things have definitely ''changed'' this time.
There's a subtle and indispensable shift in the politics of Punjab this time with voters as well as the leaders talking about jobs, infrastructure, health, farmers' income and the issues that really matter.
Raghav Chadha of the Aam Aadmi Party, which is running as a key contender in the ongoing Punjab Assembly Elections 2022, shares with Zee Media the blueprint of how his party plans to generate jobs, revive the state’s sports industry, augment farmers' income and discourage youths from the peril of drugs.
AAP leader @raghav_chadha talks to @samanyavirus about how @AamAadmiParty plans to reduce unemployment#AssemblyElections2022 #PunjabElections2022
More on: https://t.co/AAhxxJCS1M pic.twitter.com/yNQJCQyI7H
— Zee News English (@ZeeNewsEnglish) February 12, 2022
Claiming that AAP is the only party that is trying to win the elections based on real issues and has actually prepared a roadmap for implementation if it wins, Chadha said that AAP’s focus would be to address the challenges facing various industries and sectors of Punjab and facilitate their revival
“Our convener Arvind Kejriwal has been interacting with concerned industries, and we are working very closely with the Sports industry of Punjab,” said Chadha
“You’ll be surprised to know that the bat used by Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is manufactured in Punjab’s Jalandhar and the hockey sticks that most international players use are prepared here, however, the sports industry of Punjab has not received its due and we are on a mission to bring its glory back,” he added.
On being asked about some of the challenges that the sports industry in Punjab faces, Chadha highlighted that most of these units are facing being shutdown, the remaining factories do not have proper electricity and, on top of it all, they don’t even have the basic infrastructure to run these units.
“Our plan is to revive these units and industries and by doing so we are not only going to create jobs and jobs alone but we will produce job creators,” said the AAP leader.
AAP Punjab co-in charge also shared with us his party’s target for Punjab’s economy if they come to power in the state, adding that their priority is to abate the high levels of debts in the state.
“The debts in the balance sheet of Punjab are in excess of Rs 2.75 lakh crore and the population of Punjab is 3 cores, which means that the per capita debt in the state is almost Rs 1 lakh,” said Chadha.
Terming the appalling debt levels as ‘criminal’, Chadha added that 20-25 % of Punjab’s annual budget goes into balancing this debt.
Raghav Chadha, who was confident of a thumping victory in Punjab said that his party has a vision for the reparation of the already torn state economy and will implement the Delhi model in Punjab as well.
About Punjab elections, the state will go to the polls in a single phase on February 20 and the counting of votes will be held on March 10.
