Congress legislative Party (ClP) leader in Punjab, Sunil Jakhar on Monday urged the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP combine-led State Government to release compensation immediately to the farmers affected by rain and hailstorm.
Criticizing the government for its “anti-farmer policies”, Jakhar said that the BJP-led Haryana Government had doubled the amount of compensation and was also exploring other avenues to help farmers. “But, the SAD-BJP alliance Government in Punjab has not disbursed compensation even when the Central Government had released Rs203.22 crore under the disaster management scheme,” alleged Jakhar.
He said that Rs101.61 crore were received by Punjab on July 25, 2014, and Rs101.61 crore on February 10, 2015, but “cash-strapped State Government has not passed on the benefit to affected people who were promised relief in September 2014 following heavy rainfall”. In Fazilka district alone, Rs32.78 crore was yet to be disbursed to affected families as per the official survey, he said.
Ridiculing the State Government for mailing letters to New Delhi seeking increased amount of compensation, Jakhar said that the funds in hand on this account had perhaps been misused and attempts were being made to put the Centre in dock besides diverting attention of the people. “Such political gimmicks will further force people lose faith in the present government,” he said.
