Chandigarh, Oct 21 (KNN) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal is all set to launch party’s trade, transport and industry manifesto for Punjab elections in Ludhiana on October 23. The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the region are pinning hopes on the party to include their demands in the manifesto and fulfil them in case the party comes to power in the state.

The manifesto would be released at a private hotel on Chandigarh Road in the city at 11am on Sunday during which representatives of trade, transport and industry associations will attend the manifesto release function.

Talking to KNN on the representation made to the party, Vinod Vashisht, President, All India Steel Re-rollers Association, said, “We have submitted our demands to the party and are hopeful that they should include those demands in their manifesto.”

He, however, added that the time will better say that which party fulfils the demands of the industry sector.

“If the present government, which is now promising to fulfil the demands, had to do something they would have done it by now. Why wait for elections,” he said.

The main demands made by the steel re-roller industry include reduction in power tariff.

“The electricity rate charged to the MSMEs is quite high as of now. They divert entire power and benefits to the agriculture sector. The rate needs to be reduced,” Vashisht said.

He also said that being a land-locked place, the freight charges for the MSMEs are quite high. “The MSMEs should be given some freight relaxation in the area. High freight charge is one of the major issues faced by the industry here.”

Further, talking on the procurement policy he said, “Because the Public Procurement Policy is not being implemented properly in the state, the State Government should come up with quotas from procurement from MSMEs by the state undertakings.”

Elaborating further on the Public Procurement Policy, the entrepreneur said that this is the matter of the Centre and they should ensure proper implementation of the policy.

“The tenders of CPSEs and Railways ask for turnover from the MSMEs, which should not be done,” he said.

After releasing the manifesto, Kejriwal will meet traders, transporters and industrialists at Mandi Gobindgarh. The next day, he will visit Bathinda and Jalandhar and Batala and SAS Nagar (Mohali) on October 25. (KNN Bureau)