Industrialists apprehensive of investing in Punjab: Tewari

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari today hit out at the SAD-BJP government over its investment policy, alleging that industrialists who came to the state were asked to provide a "share" to those in power here.
Asking the state government to introspect on why investors were apprehensive about investing in the state, Tewari took a dig at it for going on a "shopping spree" to Mumbai for inviting investors.
He alleged that many industrialists expressed apprehension of investing in Punjab as they are asked what "share" they could provide to the powers that be.
On allegations of Centre's bias against Punjab, Tewari claimed the state had got 234 per cent more grants than it got between 1998 and 2004 during the NDA regime at Centre of which the Akalis were a part.

"They can't pass on their failures on the Centre," he said.
Asked why local industrialists were leaving Punjab, he alleged that there was total mismanagement and fiscal anarchy in the state which was on the verge of bankruptcy.

The state government was now trying to levy various taxes, like the property tax on people which had left all sections of the society unhappy and dissatisfied.
"There is total disillusionment with the state government and people are regretting as why they voted this government to power in 2012," he remarked.
Asked about prospects of Congress in Punjab in the Lok Sabha elections, Tewari said he was confident that the party would improve its 2009 tally.

To a query on Amarinder Singh's visit to different places, he remarked that "Amarinder is strengthening the party".
About his own performance as MP of Ludhiana, Tewari said, everything was in the public domain and he had left it to the judgement of the people.
On the issue of non-utilisation of his MPLAD funds by the Ludhiana Municipality over which he had written a strong letter to the municipal commissioner, he said the funds had been provided for the people.