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Arora challenged Congress leadership to clarify whether the party would continue the welfare schemes introduced by the AAP government.
Aman Arora said the AAP government was providing subsidised electricity to households, farmers and industry.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab president and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Thursday accused the Congress of having an “anti-people and feudal mindset”, claiming that the party could withdraw key welfare benefits if it returns to power in Punjab in 2027.
Targeting Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring over his reported remarks on electricity subsidies and financial assistance for women, Arora alleged that a Congress government could discontinue free electricity, the ₹10 lakh Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna and financial assistance for women. He also warned that the party could bring back toll plazas, increase electricity costs and impose charges for canal water supplied to agricultural fields.
Addressing a press conference, Arora challenged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and senior state leader Pratap Singh Bajwa to clarify whether the party would continue the welfare schemes introduced by the AAP government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
“The people of Punjab deserve a clear answer on whether Congress intends to continue these benefits or withdraw them if elected to power,” Arora said, alleging that Warring’s remarks had raised questions about the party’s plans for the state.
Arora said the AAP government was providing subsidised electricity to households, farmers and industry. He also referred to the financial assistance being provided to women, questioning the Congress’s suggestion that benefits should be restricted to those deemed to need them.
“Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s statement has made Congress’s intentions clear,” Arora said, claiming that a Congress government would go beyond changing electricity subsidies and financial assistance for women. He also questioned whether the party would continue the ₹10 lakh health cover under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, keep toll plazas closed and maintain the existing arrangements for canal water supply and the Mukh Mantri Teerath Yatra scheme.
Questioning how eligibility for welfare benefits would be determined, Arora asked who would decide which families deserved electricity subsidies and which women should receive financial assistance. He challenged Warring and other Congress leaders to explain the criteria they would use.
At A Glance
Aam Aadmi Party Punjab president Aman Arora accused the Congress of having an anti-people and feudal mindset regarding welfare benefits.
Arora claimed that a Congress government could discontinue free electricity, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, and financial assistance for women if elected in 2027.
Arora challenged Congress leaders to clarify their stance on whether they would maintain existing welfare schemes or withdraw them.
Arora cited past actions, claiming that free electricity for farmers was discontinued after the Congress came to power in 2002.
The AAP leader also questioned why Congress MPs, MLAs, former ministers and their families continued to benefit from government subsidies if the party believed that assistance should be limited to those who needed it.
“While the AAP government has been providing free electricity for four years and financial assistance to women for around six months, I have not seen Congress leaders publicly relinquish these benefits,” he said.
Arora also cited the Congress’s past record on electricity subsidies. Referring to the tenure of former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, he claimed that free electricity for farmers had been discontinued after the Congress came to power in 2002 and restored following the general election two-and-a-half years later.
He also referred to the Congress’s promise ahead of the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections to continue free electricity, arguing that the party’s record in government should be considered when assessing its current assurances.
“Congress may make all kinds of promises in its manifesto and election speeches, but the people of Punjab must judge the party by its actions and its record in government,” Arora said.
Reiterating his challenge to the Congress leadership, Arora asked Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to state clearly whether a Congress government would continue electricity subsidies and financial assistance for women or discontinue the schemes.
He further alleged that a Congress government could bring back toll plazas, impose charges for canal water supplied to agricultural fields, increase electricity costs and discontinue the ₹10 lakh health cover under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna.
“If Congress comes to power, Punjab would once again face a period in which ordinary people are burdened with higher costs while welfare benefits are withdrawn,” he said.
With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections approaching, Arora urged voters not to be swayed by election promises and to scrutinise Warring’s remarks when assessing the Congress’s position on welfare schemes.
“The issue is not just electricity subsidies or financial assistance for women; it is whether the benefits reaching ordinary families today will continue or be taken away. Congress must answer these questions clearly before asking Punjab for votes in 2027,” he said.
Quick Answers
Ask News18AAP Punjab president Aman Arora warned that if Congress returns to power in 2027, it could withdraw key welfare benefits. Specifically, he alleged the party might discontinue free electricity, financial assistance for women, and the ₹10 lakh Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna health cover, while also bringing back toll plazas and increasing utility costs.
Ask News18About the Author
Saurabh Verma is a Deputy News Editor at News18.com, specialising in Indian politics and breaking global news. With years of experience tracking election strategies, he decodes domestic issues for mil…Read More
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