Sukhbir offering lollypops to industrial houses: Bajwa

Accusing Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal of making "fake projections" on investment opportunities in the state, Punjab Congress President Partap Singh Bajwa today said that he was offering "lollypops" to industrial houses in the name of "investor-friendly industrial policy."
Addressing Congress workers during the second phase of mass contact meeting here, Bajwa said that Sukhbir was not doing any service to Punjab by telling lies to industrial houses, but only earning a bad name for the state.
He alleged that Sukhbir's presentation to IT companies in Banglore and Karnataka last week was a misleading propaganda and far from the ground realities of Punjab.

The IT sector of Punjab has already missed the revolution, he said.
"Seven years have passed since the formation of SAD-BJP government, but no industrial policy is notified till date. Many states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh had gained at the onset of IT revolution. None of the big IT industries preferred Punjab," said Bajwa.
Two companies-- Quark and Dell-- had come to Punjab during the previous Congress government, but while Quark has closed its operation, Dell is planning to wind up due to anti-industry policy of the SAD-BJP government, he said.

Bajwa said that during the Banglore summit, Sukhbir had said that industrialists can charge VAT from public and keep it with themselves to increase their profits.

It will be a big fraud with the people of Punjab who are made to pay high taxes, Bajwa said.
The base rate of VAT in Punjab at 5 per cent is the highest in the country, against 4 per cent in all other states, he said.
The power rates in Punjab are the second highest in the country and excise duty clubbed with advance tax on raw materials is the highest among all states, he said.
Bajwa said that the Deputy CM after meeting with Tata Group head had made unilateral announcement that the group will invest in big projects in Punjab.

"A press statement was issued by the PR department of the Punjab government about Tata's investment plans, but the group itself has not made any such announcement. Neither any assurance was given to Sukhbir," he said.