Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • China Slams Trump’s Tariff Threat to BRICS Nations: “We Oppose Coercion Through Tariffs”
    • Senate’s “Most Dangerous” Tax Bill Sparks Outrage as Democrats Unite Against Billionaire Bailout
    • Paramount’s $16 Million Settlement with Trump Over ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit
    • Cricmax Connect: Powering the Organic Growth of Cricket in America
    • Political Constraints and Losses in Operation Sindoor – Why the Silence?
    • India’s Operation Sindhu: Rescuing Thousands from Iran-Israel Conflict
    • India Rejects Pakistan’s Court of Arbitration, Upholds Indus Waters Treaty
    • The Golf GTI EDITION 50: Fastest Volkswagen Ever on the Nürburgring
    • About
    • Careers
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Digpu NewsDigpu News
    Tuesday, July 8
    • Home
    • World
    • India
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Sports
    • More
      • Achievers
      • Auto Tech
      • Diplomatic Diary
      • Dil Paziir
      • Education
      • Entertainment
      • Finance
      • Health
      • Opinion
      • Politics
      • Press release
      • Startup
      • Science & Nature
      • Travel
    Digpu NewsDigpu News
    Home » Politics » Navjot Singh Sidhu promises freebies ahead of 2022 Punjab polls after questioning financial viabilities of sops

    Navjot Singh Sidhu promises freebies ahead of 2022 Punjab polls after questioning financial viabilities of sops

    By Sayantika BhowalJanuary 4, 2022 Politics No Comments4 Mins Read
    Navjot Singh Sidhu promises freebies ahead of 2022 Punjab polls after questioning financial viabilities of sops
    Navjot Singh Sidhu ()third from left) while discussing the farmer benefits.
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has promised 2,000 rupees per month to female homemakers after admitting that sops will empty state exchequers

    In a bid to woo voters, Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has promised 2,000 rupees per month to female homemakers if voted to power. On Monday, PCC Sidhu also promised to give eight free gas cylinders to homemakers every year.

    However, former Punjab Congress Chief Sunil Jakhar has said that parties are running their freebies poll campaign based on the hope to generate more Excise revenue before elections. Instead, they should let the youth earn a living by “hard work, toil and sweat”.

    Earlier, Sidhu himself said that sops will empty state exchequer.

    Women Empowerment – Press Conference on Foundational Principle of Punjab Model at Barnala, Punjab https://t.co/hNlV6p4zij

    — Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) January 3, 2022
    Navjot Singh Sidhu in a press conference announcing the poll sops to uplift women

    The poll freebies by Sidhu

    The state Congress chief promised two-wheelers to girls, taking admission in colleges, in a rally organized in Punjab’s Barnala district. He also promised 20,000 rupees to girls passing Class 12, 15,000 rupees to female students passing Class 10, and 5,000 rupees to those passing Class 5.

    He stressed the need of empowering women in his address from the rally. Therefore, he promised sops to women beyond AAP’s pre-poll assurance of giving 1,000 rupees to women aged 18 years and above.

    Navjot Singh Sidhu also said that he would set up 28 skill development centres for women across the state. Transferring properties in the name of women will be done free of charge.

    The party also promised to develop home and kitchen-based business opportunities for women and provide interest-free loans up to two lakh rupees. The government will also give two lakh rupees as education loans to women up to their PhD. The Punjab Congress has also envisioned creating a women battalion and entry of females in police forces.

    From where will they get the money?

    Navjot Singh Sidhu has finally baited big to win the freebies race ahead of Punjab polls 2022. But how is the state going to finance it?

    When AAP announced poll freebies, Sidhu himself questioned the state’s financial health and the sops economic viability. On November 24, while inaugurating the developmental projects in his Assembly constituency Amritsar, Sidhu said, “A simple calculation will expose whether it is practical or not. For instance, providing 26 lakh jobs will mean an expenditure of Rs 93,000 crore, giving Rs 1,000 per woman will cost Rs 12,000 crore, and a two-kilowatt free power supply will cost Rs 3,600 crore. When taken together, all these freebies will cost Rs 1.10 lakh crore. The total budget of Punjab stands at Rs 72,000 crore. From where will Kejriwal bring the rest of the money?”

    It is questionable that how he had promised to give 2,000 rupees to women homemakers. When Chief Minister Chani capped the TV cable rate at 100 rupees, Navjot Singh Sidhu said that it is not possible as TRAI has a fixed rate of 130 rupees. “Sops will empty the state exchequer and kill livelihoods,” he added.

    This time after Sidhu announced sops, former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said in a statement, “Increasing the collections from Excise seems to be the basis for the promises being doled out by all parties. Even if it were not as absurd as it sounds, any economic model which is to be primarily fuelled by the sale of liquor is not what Punjab deserves. If ‘chitta’ has been the bane, then liquor is no elixir to be propagated! Please don’t lead the youth astray. Hard work, blood, toil, tears and sweat has always been the Punjabi way to progress and prosperity.” He has directly questioned the increased dependence of the parties on the Excise revenue of the state’s liquor economy.

    The budget estimate for 2021-22 reveals the outstanding debt of Punjab to rise to about 2.82 lakh crore rupees. The Congress in 2017 polls had promised to pay a stipend of 2,500 rupees to unemployed youth and provide jobs to every household. Apart from these, they have also promised to waive off loans to debt-ridden farmers.

    The additional announcement of the Punjab Congress Chief, Navjot Singh Sidhu, seems to be an add-on to the existing poll sops. In 2015-16, the debt of the state touched 1.25 lakh crore rupees and 1.82 lakh crore rupees in 2017.

    AAP in Punjab polls Congress freebies Freebies race in Punjab elections Punjab Polls 2022 Sidhu to women empowerment
    Sayantika Bhowal

    Sayantika Bhowal is a news connoisseur who is particularly interested in politics and human interest stories. She holds a PGDM degree in journalism from the Asian College Of Journalism. An avid reader, Sayantika spends her time painting pictures and eating Mughlai cuisine.

    Keep Reading

    Senate’s “Most Dangerous” Tax Bill Sparks Outrage as Democrats Unite Against Billionaire Bailout

    A Shameless Defense: Sambit Patra Backs Anurag Thakur’s Unparliamentary Caste Comments

    A Bold Call from Within: Nitin Gadkari’s Letter Signals Internal Dissent in BJP

    Biden: “The Best Way Forward is to Pass the Torch to a New Generation”

    Kamala Harris Emerges as Strong Presidential Candidate Following Biden’s Endorsement

    Shocking Attack on Donald Trump Rocks Presidential Campaign

    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    Latest

    China Slams Trump’s Tariff Threat to BRICS Nations: “We Oppose Coercion Through Tariffs”

    July 7, 2025

    Senate’s “Most Dangerous” Tax Bill Sparks Outrage as Democrats Unite Against Billionaire Bailout

    July 2, 2025

    Paramount’s $16 Million Settlement with Trump Over ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit

    July 2, 2025

    Cricmax Connect: Powering the Organic Growth of Cricket in America

    July 1, 2025

    China Slams Trump’s Tariff Threat to BRICS Nations: “We Oppose Coercion Through Tariffs”

    July 7, 2025

    Senate’s “Most Dangerous” Tax Bill Sparks Outrage as Democrats Unite Against Billionaire Bailout

    July 2, 2025

    Paramount’s $16 Million Settlement with Trump Over ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit

    July 2, 2025

    Cricmax Connect: Powering the Organic Growth of Cricket in America

    July 1, 2025
    About
    About

    Digpu News – Free Voice With A Critical Edge: At Digpu.com, we embody the spirit of ‘Free Voice With A Critical Edge.‘ Our mission is to reinvent the very idea of news. Launched in 2018, our independent daily English online news channel has set the standard for true journalism—emphasizing accuracy, reliability, relevance, and impartiality.

    Follow Us!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Highlights

    China Slams Trump’s Tariff Threat to BRICS Nations: “We Oppose Coercion Through Tariffs”

    Diplomatic Diary July 7, 2025

    Senate’s “Most Dangerous” Tax Bill Sparks Outrage as Democrats Unite Against Billionaire Bailout

    Paramount’s $16 Million Settlement with Trump Over ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit

    Cricmax Connect: Powering the Organic Growth of Cricket in America

    Subscribe to Digpu
    © 2025 Digpu News Network. All rights reserved.
    • Terms of Use
    • Site Map
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.