CHANDIGARH:Former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Sunil Jakhar has castigated the move to defer paddy procurement season ostensibly done by Centre with intent of teaching farmers a lesson.
Jakhar also termed AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's Delhi Model as anti-people while laying bare his claim of providing affordable industrial power to industrialists as mere hogwash.
In a statement issued here today, Sunil Jakhar said that Modi led central government should stop treating Punjab in a step motherly manner and must start paddy procurement without any further delay. Postponing the date of commencement of procurement demonstrates Centre's ill intent, he said adding that in Doaba region our farmers are to sow potato crop after paddy harvest and they cannot afford to wait.
Exposing the Centre for targetting Punjab, Jakhar said that first the standards of paddy procurement were deliberately tweaked and then our rice millers were shown the threat of CBI. Deferring procurement is just continuation of this sad trend, Jakhar pointed out.
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has raised the issue with Centre, Jakhar said while demanding immediate commencement of paddy purchase in Punjab.
Taking on Kejriwal for Delhi CM's tall promises he made in Ludhiana, the former state Congress Chief said the so called Delhi Model is a total flop. As per average billing rates, industrial power is being charged at Rs 10.29 per unit in Delhi across the board, while in Punjab small industries get power at Rs 5.99 per unit, with medium industries getting it at Rs 7.88 per unit and big industries at Rs 6.98 per unit. These rates are tax inclusive, he pointed out.
AAP leaders only indulge in politics of lies, and their government is looting people of Delhi while making fake promises in Punjab. People of Punjab have seen through AAP gimmicks and won't ever be taken in by these fake pronouncements, he added.