Bhagwant Mann: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has criticised Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring over his reported remarks on subsidies, raising concerns about the future of free electricity and financial assistance for women if the Congress returns to power in Punjab.
In a post on social media platform X, Cheema said free electricity provides relief to households, while monthly financial assistance for women offers economic support to families across the state. He argued that any move to discontinue these benefits would be a matter of concern for millions of Punjabis.
Free Electricity and Women’s Financial Assistance at Centre of Debate: Bhagwant Mann
Cheema highlighted the importance of welfare measures in reducing the financial burden on ordinary households. He said these facilities have become part of the lives of many families in Punjab, providing support amid rising household expenses.
His remarks come amid a political dispute over Raja Warring’s reported comments that subsidies should be restricted to people who genuinely need them. AAP leaders have interpreted the remarks as raising the possibility that some existing benefits could be withdrawn under a future Congress government.
AAP Questions Congress’s Welfare Policy Ahead of 2027 Elections
The issue has gained political significance ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with AAP leaders asking the Congress leadership to clarify whether it would continue the welfare schemes introduced or implemented by the Bhagwant Mann-led government.
The state currently provides eligible domestic electricity consumers with up to 300 units of free electricity per month. The government has also announced the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana, which provides monthly financial assistance to eligible women under specified conditions.
