Farmers, industry shifting to Haryana from Punjab: Congress

Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa Tuesday said farmers and industry in Punjab's border areas adjoining Haryana were shifting to the neighbouring state due to the deteriorating environment in Punjab.

"People on the border of Haryana are shifting their businesses to Haryana and also buying agricultural lands there.

"In Haryana, they are getting better business environment, better law and order and drugs are almost non-existing," Bajwa said in a statement, while blaming the Parkash Singh Badal government in Punjab for the mess in the state.

"Petrol and power tariff is much cheaper in Haryana, making it financially more prudent for investments and business. Old age pension in Haryana is Rs.1,200 per month, paid on monthly basis, while it is just Rs.400 per month in Punjab paid bi-annually," he said.

Opposing the move in Punjab to hike power tariff, Bajwa said the Badal government should instead concentrate on supplying regular power to people who were bearing the brunt of power cuts.

"Through this power tariff hike, people are further going to penalised by the state government to cover the cost of inefficiency and leakage by way of corruption," he said.

Slamming the state government for power cuts despite the claims repeatedly made by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal of making the state power surplus within three years, Bajwa asked him when would the three-year period start.

He also blamed the Badal government for the drugs menace and growing unemployment.