Finding the ruling SAD-BJP alliance on back foot on the issue of farming crisis and the growing number of farmers’ suicides, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is now planning to focus on this issue to create a wider niche for itself in the State.
Just a day after, Congress had announced to reach out to the families, who have been the victim of farmers’ suicide in the State and prepare a report on farmer suicides, AAP too seems to be zeroing on the issue of farming crises in Punjab to corner the ruling alliance.
The party in a meeting at Bathinda has zeroed in on the farming issues and is now mulling to take up the issue in a big way. The meeting was presided over by the party in charge of, Punjab Sanjay Singh and state convener Suchha Singh Chhotepur.
According to the available information, the volunteers of the party moved a number of suggestions on the ongoing economic crises of the farming community and the basic reasons behind the crisis.
It is learnt that party now plans to come up with a social movement on the issues of farmers’ suicides. The frame work of the movement is likely to be finalized in the meeting scheduled to be held on January 15 in Jalandhar. The issue is likely to be taken up prominently in the first rally of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the land of Punjab.
Talking on the issue, party senior leader Sanjay Singh said the farmers’ crisis in the state need a serious approach and a well thought strategy to bring out the farmers from the ever growing problem.
He said that the party wishes to raises the issue of farmers’ on the public platform. There are a number of farmers in the state, who are not in a position to cater to their social responsibilities like arranging for education of their children or getting their daughters married. AAP wish to run a social movement for such farmers and through this movement, well off people would be inspired to come forth to help debt ridden farmers financially, he said
Notably, to counter the onslaught of rival parties, the ruling alliance is pinning hopes on getting through Debt Relief Bill. The Bill has been shelved way back in 2008 when it was first conceived. It is learnt that the government has asked the Revenue Department to finalize the bill before the coming budget session.
The Bill will have provisions for granting institutional loans to the farmers and their un-institutional loans would also be revisited under the provisions of the Bill. The Bill is said to bring much awaited respite to the debt ridden farmers.