MUKERIAN:Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today the SAD-BSP alliance was committed to safeguard the interests of the farming community and once it came to power it would pass an Act making it mandatory for sugar mills to pay sugarcane growers their dues within the stipulated time frame.
The SAD President, who addressed public meetings at several places in this constituency, said he had received widespread complaints that sugar mills were not paying farmers their dues for sometimes as long as one year. “This is not acceptable”, he said adding the new Act would have a provision of registration of a cognizable offence against mill owners not paying dues to farmers within three months of crushing their cane.
Mr Sukhbir Badal also asked chief minister Charanjit Channi to ensure sugarcane growers received the State Assured Price (SAP) of Rs 360 per quintal notified by the State government. He said despite the announcement of the SAP, sugar mills were not bonding sugarcane crop at this price. “The government must ensure this price does not remain on paper only”.
People in Mukerian, where the SAD President canvassed for party candidate Sarobjot Sabi, complained about rampant illegal mining going in the constituency. Mr Badal said he was aware of the prevailing nexus and had witnessed it first hand when he had toured the area in July this year. People also disclosed that despite the tall promise of the chief minister of sand being made available at Rs 5.50 per cubic feet, it was actually available at more that Rs 20 per cubic feet. Mr Badal assured that once the SAD-BSP government was formed the scourge of illegal mining would be wiped out from the State and sand would be made available at low rates.
Mr Badal slammed the Congress government for closing down mandis when the entire paddy crop had not been procured by government agencies. He said lakhs of tonnes of paddy would not be procured due to this anti- farmer decision, saying the Channi government was following the agenda of the central government which wanted to curtail paddy purchase drastically. He also slammed the government for failing to ensure smooth supply of DAP fertilizer to the people besides failing to stop its black marketing.
Mr Badal also disclosed that the government was committed to ameliorating the lot of the weaker sections and that all women heads of families would receive a grant of Rs 2, 000 per month once the SAD-BSP government was formed. He also announced that students would be entitled to a student loan which would be paid by the State and government school children would be assured 33 per cent reservation in professional colleges. “We will also ensure that industrial units reserve 75 per cent of jobs for Punjabis”.
Before starting the tour of Mukerian assembly constituency the SAD president was received by a group of hundreds of passionate young motorcyclists who escorted him throughout the city. Passing through the city markets, the road show received a massive response from the residents. After paying a floral tribute to Maharana Partap Singh, he announced to install a huge statue of the legendary warrior. Apart from interacting with people from all walks of life in different areas of the constituency, Mr Badal also paid obeisance at Kalota temple besides addressing public meetings at Khichian, Chanaur, Pankoo, Hajipur and Mehatpur.