The Union Government has withheld Rs 1100 crore Rural Development Fund (RDF). The Punjab Rural Development Act 1987 is conditional on the amendment.
The Centre says that the Punjab government should first amend the Punjab Rural Development Act 1987, after that the fund will be released. In fact, the previous Congress government had spent the funds received for rural development on loan waivers for farmers. After which the Centre has shown this strictness.
Last year too, the central government had imposed a ban of Rs 1,200 crore. They were later issued on the condition of amending the Act. Despite this, the Punjab government did not take any step.
“The Aam Aadmi Party government will ensure that the work, for which the funds have come, will be spent on it. The center should not work out of vengeance. This is the failure and mistake of the previous government, why should we bear the brunt of it,” said Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Malvinder Kang.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Harjit Grewal said that last time the Punjab government spent Rs 6 thousand crores of RDF on loan waivers for farmers. After this, the Utilization Certificate (UC) was not given to the center. He said it is a law and even the prime minister cannot change it. Aam Aadmi Party should not spew venom against the Centre.