Blaming the previous Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) regime for putting Punjab in “an acute financial mess”, Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that the SAD-BJP mortgaged the next generation of state by indulging in reckless borrowings and spending shamelessly during their decade long tenure.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address, the CM said had the previous regime not accepted a liability of Rs 31,000 Crore even on their last day in office, his government could have doubled pensions for the poor and disabled people and enhanced relief for the debt-ridden farmers and farm labourers of the state.

Amarinder said it was very unfortunate that the previous Parkash Singh Badal government did not spare the people of Punjab, even when it demitted office in March last year.

He revealed that on the last day of their government, the Akali-BJP combine had accepted a liability of Rs 31,000 Crore on account of gap in Food Cash Credit Limit, thereby putting an additional burden of Rs 3,240 Crore per year on the state and its people.

He said it was ironical that every time it was left upon the Congress to correct the state’s finances, whereas, the Akali-BJP brings it to a complete ruin.

Admitting that the journey ahead was fraught with challenges, the CM said that if Punjab has to survive and stand up on its feet, his government will have to take decisions, which are in the long-term interest of the people.

Expressing satisfaction that his government had initiated the process to put the state back on the path of fiscal correction, the CM informed the house that the resource gap had come down from over Rs 10,000 Crore during the previous year to about Rs 4,000 Crore this year.

He said the state’s revenue receipts had increased by 22.85 per cent over the previous year, whereas, the increase in expenditure had been contained at 14.45 per cent.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to wipe out corruption, Amarinder promised to take stern action against anyone found to be even remotely concerned with any illegal activity, denying the state its legitimate revenue and the citizens their legitimate rights.

The CM said his government was examining all the scams perpetrated by the previous SAD-BJP government, including irrigation scam, scams in constructing roads and buildings, scholarship scam and the scams concerning illegal mining, and would take stringent action against the guilty.

The SAD-BJP government has not only demolished systems, structures and violated laws of the land, but also protected and rewarded the dishonest and demoralised the honest, said the CM.

The government will bring a new Lokpal Act with powers to initiate action on complaints against the political executives and the bureaucracy at all levels, the CM announced, observing that the House had already passed a legislation making it mandatory for all the members to file their annual property returns.