PM has assured us on fiscal assistance: Sukhbir

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and himself on fiscal assistance to the state.
During a meeting yesterday in New Delhi, Parkash and Sukhbir Badal had raised various issues pertaining to development of the state and Modi had assured to consider all the demands put forth to resolve the issues.
"The Prime Minister gave a patient hearing and assured to resolve the pending issues of the state to maintain the pace of development and growth in Punjab," Sukhbir Badal told reporters here on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting.

Answering a query regarding financial package, Badal said the state had demanded outstanding debt waiver and refund of Rs 2,694 crore paid as interest on special term loan amounting to Rs 5,800 crore by the state for fighting militancy.
"We also raised the issue of incentives to neighbouring states which has affected the industrial climate in Punjab as various industries have migrated to those states due to special packages. We demanded that the same concessions be extended to us till 2017," he said.
Sukhbir said the Chief Minister had also told Modi about the "discrimination" faced by the state due to the wrong policies of the previous UPA government.

He said the Prime Minister had assured to resolve pending issues pertaining to Punjab by initiating discussions with the concerned Secretaries of various departments.
The Deputy Chief Minister said Punjab has also demanded an amount of Rs 5,000 crore as non plan grant before submission of report by 14th Finance Commission.
Sukhbir said that the state had also demanded a Rs 2,330 crore package from the Centre for farmers of state on account of deficit rains this year.