SAD flays Bharti Kisan Union factions leading agitation by distressed farmers of Punjab

Punjab Newsa Express
CHANDIGARH: The Bharti Kisan Uniuon group led by Ajmer Singh Lakhowal (Chairman Punjab Mandi Board) has distanced from the agitating farmers of Punjab and decided to stand by SAD-BJP government in the hour of crisis. SAD has flayed the other factions, BKU Ekta and Ugrahan who are leading the agitation.

The SAD has condemned the farmer Unions who are helping the farmers in distress and ahiled the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for being champion of farmer's cause.

In a statement here, senior SAD leaders and MPs Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Balwinder Singh Bhundur and Prem Singh Chandumajra said farmer organisations particularly the BKU Ekta, Ugrahan and few others were trying to sow discord in the peasantry for vested interests. Stating that these same organisations have earlier also used the same tactics to destabilise the social order, the SAD mps urged the government to continue to address the genuine demands of farmers but stand firm against any attempt to disturb the social fabric in the State.

Speaking about the Punjab Congress, the leaders said the less said the better. “Punjab Congress leaders, who have lost their standing in public life, suffered further ridicule when they were snubbed when they tried to attend meetings being held by farmer organisations following damage to cotton crop”. They said another Congress leader and mp – Capt Amarinder Singh, who was presently holidaying in England with his cronies, was also trying to make his presence felt through PR releases never mind the fact that he had no answer as to why he had abandoned his Amritsar constituents presently and withdrawn free power facility to farmers as chief minister earlier.

Stating that crying crocodile tears over the status of farmers would not get the Congress leaders anywhere, the SAD mps said the Congress should take a lesson from the steadfast manner in which chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had tackled the agri crisis after the white fly attack on the cotton crop in the State. They said in stark contrast to the Congress rule under Capt Amarinder Singh when farmers were awarded a compensation of only Rs 3,000 per acre for crop damage, the SAD-BJP government had increased this compensation to Rs 8,000 per acre. They said it was due to this increase that cotton farmers would now get an Rs 643 crore compensation package.

Detailing other steps taken by the chief minister, the mps said Rs 540 crore had been released for clearing the arrears of sugarcane farmers due towards the cooperative mills with the last tranche of Rs 90 crore being released last month. They said the State government was also making concerted efforts to ensure dues owed to farmers by private sugar mills were also cleared at the earliest. They said besides this the government was also making efforts to ensure PUSA 1509 basmati was procured at the minimum support price commensurate with the market price to avoid distress sale of this commodity.

The SAD leaders said an intensive drive had also been undertaken to ensure each and every grain of paddy was purchased and lifted from the markets. The mps said special permission had been granted to ensure paddy could be lifted with trollies to ensure there was no glut in the markets. "The government is also committed to make payments to farmers within the time schedule and has also launched a helpline in the office of Directorate of Food and Civil Supplies in Chandigarh to ensure farmers do not have any problem during the ongoing paddy season", they added.