Amritsar, Jan 21: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today launched a scathing on the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government in Punjab, saying the state which was once a frontrunner in all spheres had now fallen behind.
Addressing an election rally in his hometown here, he asked the electorate to overthrow the present regime and bring back Congress to power in the state.
“Punjab was a golden land till a few years ago. The state was a frontrunner for many years and had done wonders in agriculture, industial sector and food production.
“It had no parallel in Sabyachar (culture) not just in the country but around the world. But, now it lags behind,” Singh told the rally.
He said after being number one state in the country, Punjab had fallen back and alleged the SAD-BJP government was responsible for this.
He said even small and neighbouring state Haryana had left Punjab behind.
Haryana was carved out of Punjab in November 1966.
The Prime Minister said Punjab's fiscal situation was in a mess and the state was facing massive debt to the tune of Rs 1.20 lakh crore.
He accused the Badal government of failing to sincerely implement and properly utilise funds provided to the state for carrying out developmental activities.
Speaking in Punjabi, Singh, in his nearly 35-minute speech, said the Congress rule between 2002 and 2007 had seen a swift pace of development in the agrarian state.
He said there had been little development during the SAD-led dispensation, adding power problem and unemployment had aggravated during its rule.
