Both claim credit as the Centre waived the loan to fight militancy in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: A loan of Rs 6,000 crores, raised by the Punjab government to combat militancy, has become the latest bone of contention between Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal.
As the Centre announced to waive the loan last week, both Amarinder and Badal, claimed credit for ridding the state of the hefty financial burden. Punjab had raised the loan between 1984 and 1994 to upgrade the state police force and meet the cost of retaining more than 300 companies of para-military forces deployed in Punjab. Though the state paid back nearly Rs 2,300 crores of the total amount, with an interest of Rs 4,000 crores thereof, the rest of the principal amount, Rs 3772 crores, remained pending.
Just a day before the model code of conduct came into effect, the Centre, announced to waive the loan completely.
The chief minister was quick to express his rejoice and gratitude to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh claiming it to be one of his major achievements as also a reflection of the UPA government's "care and concern" for Punjab.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal, however, was quick to dismiss it saying that the decision to waive the outstanding loan had, in fact, been taken by the then Prime Minister IK Gujral. It was during his term as the chief minister that the state government had contended that the Centre should bear the entire expense of combating militancy, as it was essentially a threat to the nation, Badal said.
While putting a moratorium on the payment of the outstanding amount till March 2007, the Centre had, subsequently, referred the matter to the planning commission. With the forthcoming elections on their minds, if Badal claimed credit for initiating the process, Amarinder retorted saying it was the UPA government that finally delivered the state of the burden.
According to official sources, it was after the persistent demand of the state government that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set up a working committee to analyse the demand. The committee recommended waiving the loan completely this month. The report was considered by the union Cabinet on Thursday.
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