Accusing Congress-led Punjab Government of being hand-in-glove with sugar mill mafia, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday sought the Governor’s intervention to put “constitutional pressure” on the State Government to save sugarcane growers from the clutches of private sugar mill mafia.
AAP delegation, led by the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha, presented a memorandum to the Governor VP Singh Bandore for the same.
The delegation apprised the Governor that the previous SAD-BJP Government and the present Congress Government led by Capt Amarinder Singh have been playing in the hands of sugar mill owners and failed to provide justice to the sugarcane growers.
“In the current crushing season, the private sugar mill owners have refused to give state advisory price (SAP) of Rs 310 per quintal as recommended by the State Sugarcane Control Board, and instead insisting to pay statuary price of Rs 275 per quintal fixed by the Central Government. The sugar mill owners are conspiring to grab the difference of Rs 35 per quintal,” alleged Cheema.
Cheema requested the Governor to prevail upon the State Government to raise the price of sugarcane to Rs 350 per quintal keeping in mind the highest VAT on diesel imposed by Punjab Government, the low water level and high rates of machinery and labour.