PPP seeks White Paper on 14th Fin Comm recommendations

With Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and state Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa voicing opposite views over the impact of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission on the state, People's Party of Punjab (PPP) chief Manpreet Singh Badal today demanded that the state government must come out with a White Paper on the issue.
"Badal had all praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Hola Mohalla stage at Anandpur Sahib saying it had never been so good for Punjab as now with increase in share in central taxes having been increased from 32 to 42 per cent. He had gone to the extent of claiming that the Punjab's stand on financial autonomy stands vindicated.

"However, Dhindsa presented a very dismal picture saying 'we are not happy'. These are two contrary views on the same issue and this has confused the people," he said.
The state government must clarify the situation as the Budget Session is about to commence, he said.
Manpreet said the state government had failed to convince Finance Commission that a uniform formula could not be applied to all the states and questioned Badal's praise for the plan given the contrary viewpoint by state Finance Minister.
Badal had said his Shiromani Akali Dal's stand on federalism was vindicated after the Centre decided to raise states' share in central taxes to 42 per cent from 32 per cent, at a 'Hola Mohalla' function in Anandpur Sahib on Thursday.