Dewan Tears Into Punjab Budget: ‘Worst Ever, Hollow & Visionless’

Ludhiana, March 8, 2026: Former District Congress Committee, Ludhiana (Urban) President and Ex-Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, Pawan Dewan, has termed the Budget presented by Finance Minister Harpal Cheema as “one of the worst ever” in the state’s history. He asserted that the people of Punjab had already lost confidence in the government’s fiscal vision and this budget has only deepened their disappointment.
Reacting to the Budget, Dewan described it as “disappointing, disheartening and disillusioning,” calling it nothing more than a “bundle of lies” aimed at deceiving the people of Punjab. Highlighting the state’s mounting debt burden, he accused the AAP government of pursuing “visionless and ill-conceived policies” that have crippled Punjab’s economy. 
Taking a jibe at AAP’s slogan of “badlaav,” Dewan remarked, “Instead of creating Rangla Punjab, they have reduced it to Kangla Punjab.” He accused the government of fiscal mismanagement that, he warned, will ultimately burden the common man and leave damage to Punjab’s economy that could take years to repair.
Terming the budget as “completely hollow and lackluster,” Dewan said that it was shameful for an agrarian state to ignore the plight of farmers by failing to announce any concrete measures for their benefit. He noted that the struggling industrial sector has also received no relief. 
Reacting sharply to the announcement of the ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna’, which promises monthly allowances of ₹1,000 for general category women and ₹1,500 for women from the SC category above 18 years of age, Dewan ridiculed the timing of the scheme. “For four years, this government denied women their rightful support. 
Mocking at the timing of the scheme, Dewan said, “With elections less than a year away, the government suddenly remembers its promise. Had it been serious, it would have declared that arrears from the past four years will also be cleared”, while adding that the women of Punjab are intelligent enough to see through what he called a ‘politically motivated’ move. 
Dewan also lambasted the government for imposing exclusions, arguing that by keeping taxpayers and few select categories outside the ambit of the scheme, the announcement has lost its claim of universality.
Questioning the current status of the projects announced in previous budgets, Dewan dared the AAP government to bring a “White Paper” on all announcements made during the budgets presented by their government. Stating that U-Turns, “broken promises, lies and hypocrisy” are the hallmarks of this AAP government, Dewan said, “But now it stands completely exposed before the 3 crore people of the Punjab.” 
Dewan reiterated that the days of AAP government are numbered, while adding that Congress will register a landslide victory in the 2027 assembly elections. He emphasized that the Congress party is fully prepared to restore Punjab’s pride and prosperity. 
“Once Congress forms the government, our foremost priority will be to stabilize Punjab’s dwindling economy, restore financial discipline and put the state back on the path of progress and development,” Dewan assured. He underlined that Punjab deserves a government that delivers on promises, manages resources responsibly and works for the welfare of its people rather than indulging in populist gimmicks.