Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday expressed disappointment over the Union budget, stating that the border state was ignored once again and not given anything.

Terming it as an ``election budget’’, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader held that it had only announcements for Bihar. In his post on X, Mann wrote that the Union government has not given anything to the farmers and the youths of Punjab.

Slamming Centre for not announcing minimum support price (MSP) for crops or any other package for Punjab’s industries, Mann said that neither has Punjab been given anything to improve its economy.

He said that once again the Central government has treated Punjab and Punjabis unfairly, yet, the people of Punjab will ensure that Punjab stands on its own through its own efforts.

Meanwhile, Punjab finance minister Harpal Cheema also expressed disappointment that none of the demands made by Punjab during the pre-budget meeting held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan on December 20, 2024, were met in the budget.

Addressing newspersons, he said the state has also demanded Rs 1,000 crore for strengthening police infrastructure along the 500 km hostile border with Pakistan. Furthermore, he expressed disappointment that the long-standing demands for the Rajpura to Chandigarh railway line and Vande Bharat Rail services from Amritsar and Bathinda to Delhi were also ignored in the budget.

PUTS AGRARIAN ECONOMY IN PERIL: SUKHBIR

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal also said it was unfortunate that the union budget 2025 did not go in for inclusive development of the nation and concentrated on poll bound states.

Reacting to the budget, Sukhbir Badal said it was unfortunate that the government had failed to earmark funds for ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) on all crops as per the assurance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi four years back. He said similarly no funds were earmarked for a comprehensive farm loan waiver which was needed across the country keeping in mind the distress in the agriculture sector.