Punjab Congress on Sunday announced to stage a protest at all district headquarters across the State on November 15 against the Centre’s “anti-people policies”, besides the decision to sign Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) treaty.
“The party will organise protest at all district headquarters to flay Union Government’s anti-people policies. The party will also oppose the decision to sign RCEP treaty as it is against the interests of indigenous farmers,” said the State Congress Chief Sunil Jakhar, after holding a meeting of Congress’ district presidents.
Besides the decision regarding holding the protest, the meeting also discussed the ensuing local Government elections and the Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th birth anniversary celebrations.
The State Congress president has asked the district unit Chiefs to gear up for the local Government elections. In addition, duties were also assigned to befittingly commemorate parkash purab as per
religious spirit.
“The people are suffering of severe depression due to irrational economic policies of Narendra Modi Government. Industries are shutting; unemployment is at its highest rate. Instead of getting new jobs for youth, the number of jobs of already employed people is nose diving. Farming is going
through its worst phase,” Jakhar said, adding the Congress has planned protest across the State on November 15 to highlight the failures of the Central Government on all fronts.
Talking about RCEP, Jakhar said that after this agreement, the economy of farmers and milk producers in India will be completely destroyed.
He said that under RCEP, import of cheap grain and milk products from abroad would flow in freely which would have a direct adverse impact on Indian farmers who were not getting full value for their produce already.
Notably, RCEP, comprising the 10-member ASEAN bloc and six other countries — India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand — is engaged in negotiations for a free-trade pact. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Bangkok where negotiations to finalise the long-overdue RCEP entered the final stage.
Jakhar also questioned Akali Dal over the issue of “such anti-farmer steps” of the NDA Government of which it is also a part asking why the party leaders, who claimed to be saviours of farmers, were silent.
He alleged that the SAD leadership had completely ignored the farmers’ interests.
At the same time, Jakhar invited all the party leaders to attend the 550th prakash-purb event of Guru Nanak Dev at Sultanpur Lodhi on November 12. “All possible efforts are made by the Punjab Government to ensure common stage but the ego of the Akali leaders did not allow this to happen,” he added.
Jakhar also assigned duties to district president to prepare for the elections of local bodies, which are scheduled in the coming months. He said that the people should be made aware of the State Government’s achievements which was working according to its election manifesto.