Industry to Get Wings in Punjab, “AAP” Government Hands Over Its Power to the Business Community – Kejriwal

• With the launch of Sectoral Committees, small and large business owners will frame policies and the government will implement them – Kejriwal
• “True AAP politics means giving power back to the people, replacing rule with public participation” – Kejriwal
• Now, Punjab grants deemed approvals within 45 days; MSMEs with investment up to ₹125 crore need no approval – Kejriwal
• Earlier, in Punjab, progress was punished through extortion and intimidation of industrialists – Kejriwal
• Previous governments looted Punjab, but AAP will fulfil the dream of making Punjab “Rangla” again – Bhagwant Mann
• AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, along with CM Bhagwant Mann, launched the Sectoral Committees in Chandigarh

New Delhi/Punjab, Aug 2025 – The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has made a “revolutionary beginning” to boost industry. On Friday, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann launched Sectoral Committees in Chandigarh. Addressing the event, Kejriwal said Punjab’s industry will now grow at double speed because the government has handed over its powers to the business community. This, he said, will ensure that neither business nor employment will stall. With these committees, small and large entrepreneurs themselves will make policy, and the government will simply implement it. “True politics of AAP means putting power back in people’s hands – replacing government rule with public participation,” Kejriwal stated.

He announced that starting a business in Punjab now takes just 45 days for deemed approval, while MSMEs with investments up to ₹125 crore require no approvals at all. “Punjab has done what no other place in the world has achieved – only an honest, people-centric government can make this possible,” Kejriwal said. Before AAP, he added, there was a system of extortion in which industrialists were threatened and forced to pay up, discouraging progress and driving businesses out of the state. Punjab, once India’s No. 1 state, had fallen to 18th place due to corruption and fear.

From extortion to industry-friendly to revolutionary – Kejriwal
Kejriwal said Punjab’s recent history can be divided into three phases: the old extortion-based system before 2022; the past three years of industry-friendly governance under AAP; and now, a revolutionary system. “Only an honest government can decide to give approvals within 45 days. And for MSMEs with investment under ₹125 crore – no approvals at all. This kind of ease-of-doing-business policy is unheard of,” he said.

Rejecting political fundraising through harassment, Kejriwal stressed: “We don’t want to collect party funds. We only want Punjab’s progress.” Sharing his own background as a former income tax officer, Mann as a former artist, and Sanjeev Arora as a businessman, he noted none of them came from political dynasties. “Our only goal is to maintain people’s trust and drive development,” he said.

He emphasised that politicians and bureaucrats should not dictate industrial policy in sectors they don’t understand. “Earlier, industry associations had to beg for small approvals, taking years. AAP has ended that system. These sectoral committees will now take Punjab’s industrialisation to airplane speed.”

Twenty-four sectoral committees have been formed, each with carefully chosen members, representing MSMEs and large industries, to ensure diverse input. Kejriwal urged industry to avoid over-reliance on subsidies, as they are not sustainable, and instead focus on innovation and studying best practices from other states and countries. Policies must be drafted by 2 October and will be implemented under industry’s responsibility. “This is a new governance model – the government cutting off its own hands and placing power in the people’s hands,” he said.

Sectoral Committees to draft policies for each industrial sector – Bhagwant Mann
CM Bhagwant Mann said the idea for 24 sector-specific committees was born in September 2023 during government–industry meetings. These committees will prepare detailed strategies for each sector, ensuring equal participation from industrialists. Each will have a chairperson, member secretary, and officials from the Punjab Bureau of Industrial Investment and District Industry Centres, with representation from large units, MSMEs, sub-sectors, and regions for collective decision-making.

Mann said Punjab stands at a decisive moment, with potential to build a visionary, world-class ecosystem. He called on industrialists to act as equal partners in making Punjab India’s most preferred industrial and export hub. Punjab already leads in sectors such as food processing, textiles, auto components, hand tools, bicycle manufacturing, IT, and tourism. Since March 2022, Punjab has received investment proposals worth ₹1.14 lakh crore, creating over 4.5 lakh jobs.

He highlighted growing global interest from Japan, the US, Germany, the UK, Dubai, South Korea, Singapore, and Spain, crediting industry-friendly policies, corruption-free governance, and a conducive investment climate. The state has also introduced progressive measures like real-time investor support through WhatsApp, AI chatbots, and call centres, and simplified processes such as fire NOC extensions and leasehold-to-freehold conversions.

Contrasting with previous regimes that, he said, exploited and pressured entrepreneurs, Mann asserted: “Now we have a people’s government that offers equal opportunities to all, encourages industry, and helps it flourish.” He reiterated the government’s strong push against corruption and drugs, claiming anti-drug campaigns are yielding positive results and that Punjab is on the path to becoming drug-free. “Punjab will once again emerge as a leader in every field, with Punjabis making the state and the country proud globally,” Mann concluded.