NABHA: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today demanded chief minister Bhagwant Mann release compensation at the rate of Rs 50, 000 per acre for wheat crop damaged by the recent hail storm in the Malwa region as was promised to farmers by the Aam Aadmi Party in its 2022 election manifesto.
Addressing a massive rally here as part of the party’s Punjab Punjab Bachao campaign along with Halka Incharge Makhan Singh Lalka, the SAD president said “farmers are in distress. I am getting calls from across the State with farmers saying they did not got a single rupee for damage caused to their paddy crop in the devastating floods last year. Now they are again appealing for compensation for widespread damage to standing wheat crop especially in Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts”.
Asserting that the AAP government had given nothing to farmers in the last four years, Mr Sukhbir Badal said
“If nothing else it should fulfill at least one election promise by releasing compensation to them at the rate of Rs 50, 000 per acre”.
Speaking about the difficulties being faced by the Arhatiya community which was part and parcel of Punjab’s food grain recruitment process, Mr Badal said “the SAD stands for restoration of the 2.5 per cent commission on MSP of wheat and paddy for Arhatiyas. This is absolutely necessary to cover rising operational costs of Arhatiyas in Mandis.
I condemn chief minister Bhagwant Mann for failing to take up this issue forcefully with the centre and ensuring justice is done to the Arhatiya community. I assure that once the SAD forms the government we will do our utmost to ensure restoration of this commission”.
Mr Badal also came down strongly on the chief minister for ordering a lathi charge on farmers who wanted to meet him today at Moga. “It’s clear. The chief minister is afraid to face the questions of farmers who collected close to his rally site today to ask him why AAP legislators and leaders stole trolleys of farmers at Shambhu - Khanauri and why no action was being taken in the matter besides denial of compensation to farmers for the loss to their standing paddy crop in the devastating floods last year”. He said instead of listening to the farmers the chief minister chose the path of the coward by ordering the police to launch a lathi charge against them.
Mr Badal also spoke on how the AAP government was using State Roadways buses for ferrying people at its political rallies and how these party rallies were being held at government expense. “
Outlining his vision for Punjab, Mr Badal spoke on how the next SAD government would establish a World Skill University which would skill one lakh youth every year and would have centres in each district. He also announced that all Scheduled caste, backward caste and poor students would be given free education till the graduation level. He also announced an
Rs 10 lakh interest free loan would be offered to youth besides restarting an expanded Aata Dal scheme and raising old age pension to Rs 3, 100 per month and Shagun allowance to Rs 1 lakh. He also announced that government jobs would be only given to Punjabis and that 75 per cent subsidy would be given to establish dairy and other livestock ventures.