Sangrur: Slamming his predecessor Capt Amarinder Singh for allegedly issuing baseless statements on “sensitive issues” concerning the farmers of state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday asked him to refrain from “politicizing” each and every issue for his own vested interests.
Badal said before issuing any statement the opposition leaders must remember that the farmers were facing a number of problems due to the nature’s fury in form of unseasonal rain and hailstorm, he said. He said it was unfortunate that instead of expressing solidarity with the farmers in this hour of crisis, Amarinder was playing dirty politics over this issue by irrelevantly issuing unwarranted and unjustified statements.
Badal said people and governments were helpless before natural disasters and the damage caused in Nepal due to earthquake was an example of it. The Chief Minister said on its part the state government has ensured that every single grain was procured in a smooth and hassle free manner from the farmers.
He said it was a well known fact that after the state government had raised the issue of loss suffered by farmers, the NDA government had extended a helping hand by increasing the amount of relief besides bearing the value cut in MSP due to damage in crop. However, Badal said instead of bailing out the farmers from this grave crisis, the Congress leaders have indulged in politicking for just scoring brownie points before the media. Referring to the power scenario in the state, he said that due to the concerted efforts of the state government, Punjab was today a power sufficient state. He said massive steps have been taken to augment power generation in the state, which had produced desired effects.
Badal said still the state government was tapping the potential of state for harnessing solar and other renewable sources of energy to increase the generation of power in the state. On the issue of farm suicides, the Chief Minister, while expressing concern over the matter, said till now the state government had released about Rs 99 crore for the next of kin of farmers committing suicide. Badal also said the state government has also enhanced the amount of compensation given to such families from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh.
He assailed the Congress party for allegedly accentuating the woes of common man during long spell of its misrule. He said it was a fact that most of the Congress Prime Ministers had not visited any village during their entire term then how could anybody expect that they would solve the problems of villagers. However, Badal said as incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed from a modest background so he was well aware of the woes of people. “This is why NDA government-led by Modi had taken several path breaking initiatives, in only one year of assuming office, aimed at ensuring the well being of poor and needy,” he added. Terming the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as a party with difference, the Chief Minister said the party had a long and glorious history of sacrifices.
He said the SAD had always fought for safeguarding the interests of state and its people. “While other parties have misled the people through hollow slogans we have always stood for you in every thick and thin situation,” added Badal. (PTI)
