₹10,000 Crore Fresh Debt Exposes Mann Government’s Failed Economic Management: Sukhjinder Randhawa

Farmers, Youth, Employees, MPs, and the General Public Are on the Streets, While Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Remains Busy with Advertisements

Chandigarh, July 22, 2026: Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and Member of Parliament Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa launched a sharp attack on the Punjab Government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, stating that the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL)—which the government has consistently projected as a profit-making utility—has now been forced to seek a fresh loan of ₹10,000 crore. He said that persistent delays in subsidy payments, mounting outstanding dues, expensive power purchases, and now the need for additional borrowing clearly indicate that Punjab's power sector is facing a severe financial crisis. This, he said, exposes the wide gap between the government's claims and the ground reality.
Randhawa said the most serious aspect of the situation is that, for the first time, the Punjab Government has reportedly refused to provide a sovereign guarantee for the loan being taken by its own power utility. If the government itself has no confidence in the financial health of its own company, how can it continue to assure the public that everything is functioning smoothly? He demanded that the government explain what kind of financial crisis has emerged that compelled it to distance itself from its own power corporation and necessitated a loan of ₹10,000 crore. He also asked who is responsible for pushing the state into a financial emergency and who will ultimately bear the burden of paying interest on this massive debt.
Randhawa further alleged that the Chief Minister and his government must answer the questions being raised by the people. The government should disclose how much fresh debt has been added to Punjab's liabilities, reveal the true financial condition of state-owned corporations, and explain how public money is being spent. Every rupee must be accounted for, and the government must clarify how a regime that came to power promising financial stability has instead taken Punjab in the opposite direction.
He said that the situation in Punjab and across the country today reflects widespread public dissatisfaction. Farmers are agitating over their demands, youth are protesting against unemployment and alleged recruitment scams, government employees are struggling for their legitimate demands, and ordinary citizens are raising their voices over issues such as electricity, water supply, and rising prices. Even opposition Members of Parliament have been compelled to take to the streets over the NEET issue and the future of students. According to Randhawa, this is not the picture of a successful government but of a governance system that has completely failed.