The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener and DelhiChief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made 10 promises to the traders and businessmenof Jalandhar for the development and upliftment of industry, trade and commerceand appealed to them to be part of the AAP government to be formed in 2022.Seeking the support of traders, businessmen and industrialists, Kejriwal said,“You have tried the Congress-Captain and the Badals, now give us a chance. Wedon't need funds from businessmen, we just need support.”
Arvind Kejriwal was addressing a programme titled‘Kejriwal's talk with traders and businessmen’ held in Jalandhar on Wednesdayfor the purpose of soliciting suggestions to the problems and difficultiesfaced by the traders and businessmen of Jalandhar along with Punjab; which wasorganized by AAP Punjab. He appealed to the industrialists and businessmen ofPunjab that give the AAP a chance too and you will forget everyone else, theexample of which has been given to the people by the Delhi government of AAP.He said the AAP has done a miracle in Delhi for business and trade and will doit in Punjab too. Bhagwant Mann, Jarnail Singh, Raghav Chadha, Harpal SinghCheema and Aman Arora were also present on the stage.
After listening to the problems and solutions of thetraders and businessmen, Arvind Kejriwal first announced 24-hour uninterruptedpower supply for the industry. Kejriwal said at present there are longpower-cuts in Punjab and without electricity; neither industry nor trade couldrun smoothly. He said on formation of the AAP government, 24-hour power supplywould be provided; as done by the AAP in Delhi.
Second, Arvind Kejriwal announced that red-tapism and‘inspector raj’ will be ended. He said corruption runs in the system becausethe intentions of the governments were bad. “If there is an honest CM andcabinet at the top then I can challenge that the entire structure below will bealright. We did this in Delhi,” he said. Kejriwal said, “Old laws will berectified and unnecessary laws will be scrapped. A system will be built whereinexisting industries need not waste time over government and will be able toinvest their time in business.”
Third, on the problem of VAT refund, Arvind Kejriwal saidthat on formation of the AAP government in Punjab, a certainty will be thereand the VAT will be refunded to the businessmen between 3 to 6 months and aninstallment system will be made for big refunds. Fourth, he announced thatinfrastructure will be strengthened. He said 80 percent of industries werelocated outside the focal point and there were many problems including roads,water and sewerage; which the AAP government will solve by bringing a budgetaryprovision.
Fifth, Kejriwal announced that the enhancement processwill be ended on the formation of the AAP government in Punjab. He said thatfirst the Badal government and then the Captain Amarinder Singh-led governmenttalked of resolving the issue of enhancement, but nothing was done. Kejriwalrequested the traders, businessmen and industrialists to give the AAP a chanceso that the enhancement charge can be completely ended.
Sixth, he said that CLU (Change of land use) and othertypes of hassles will also be ended at the areas which have been declared asindustrial zones with an automatic intimidation only. Seventh, the AAP nationalconvener said that extortion in the form of ‘monthly’ and ‘weekly’ will also beeradicated along with ‘goonda tax’ which continues unabated. He said ‘goondatax’ was collected from every truck as the system had been occupied by theministers. “It is my guarantee to end this system and it will be ourresponsibility to let the traders work smoothly,” he added.
In his eighth announcement, Arvind Kejriwal said that hehas come to invite the traders and businessmen to become partners in the futureAAP government. He said on the formation of the AAP government in Punjab, ajoint body of businessmen-traders will be formed, which will be headed by aminister. The joint body will have representatives from each business sector sothat it could get geographically and sector-wise representation; and will meetevery month. “Decisions will be taken during the same meeting and thegovernment will implement them immediately,” he said.
Ninth, he said that peace, law and order will bestrengthened in the state. Kejriwal said that Punjab is a border state and thelaw and order with its secular structure should be maintained here. With theformation of the AAP government, such an atmosphere will be created in Punjabthat everyone can live together in harmony.
In his tenth announcement, Arvind Kejriwal said that moreemphasis will be given to small traders and MSMEs so that unemployment will begenerated. Taking a promise from the industrialists, businessmen and traders,Kejriwal assured that he will ensure employment to the unemployed and the AAPgovernment will resolve all their problems. He claimed that such developmentwill be done so that no one will remain unemployed in Punjab. Kejriwal urgedthe industrialists, businessmen and traders to make the AAP win all nine seatsof Jalandhar.
Earlier, AAP Punjab president and MP Bhagwant Mann, whilewelcoming party chief Arvind Kejriwal and industrialists, said, “The directionand state of politics is changing. The big parties are looking at the AAP and settingpolitical agendas.” He alleged that the industries were going out of Punjabunder the rule of the ruling party. Industries and trade from Mandi Gobindgarhto Dhariwal Gurdaspur have shifted to other states as there is no industrialpolicy, he added.
At the programme, the leaders of traders and businessassociations of Jalandhar shared their problems and suggestions with Kejriwal.The role of stage secretary was played by AAP MLA Aman Arora and he said, “TheRs 400 crore tax refunds of the industrialists and traders is due with thegovernment, but the government has issued notices to further harass 2.5 lakhtraders.” On the occasion, MLAs Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Master Baldev Singh,Prof Baljinder Kaur, Kulwant Singh Pandori, Principal Budh Ram, state treasurerNeena Mittal, Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, Surinder Singh Sodhi, Dr Shiv Dayal Mali,Dr Sanjeev Sharma, Harvinder Bakhshi, Kultar Singh Pehlwan, Harjot Singh Bains,Ratan Singh Kakar Kalan, Balkar Singh and other leaders were also present.
AAP gives jolt to Congress and Akali Dal Badal
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) gave a jolt to the rulingCongress and the Akali Dal Badal on Wednesday. In the presence of AAP supremoArvind Kejriwal and state president Bhagwant Mann in Jalandhar, five-timecouncilor of the ruling Congress from Pathankot and chairman of the PathankotImprovement Trust, Vibhuti Sharma and Shiromani Akali Dal Women Wing’s generalsecretary, three-time sarpanch from Bir village, best Panchayat award andformer chairman of Nakodar Block Committee, Inderjit Kaur Mann, joined the AamAadmi Party.