India, Aug. 9 -- BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Ashok Mittal, in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian, spoke on a range of issues, including fiscal debt, welfare schemes and the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. Emphasising the need for prudent public spending, Mittal said, "Rather than focusing solely on cutting expenditure, the priority should be on improving the quality and efficiency of government spending. The objective should be to ensure that every rupee spent delivers measurable benefits and tangible outcomes for citizens."

Q) To what extent do you believe the current debt crisis is the result of policy decisions taken by successive governments? Should welfare schemes be reviewed in light of the state's rising debt b...