Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday said the Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, has ignored the plight of the Sikh farmers in the Kutch area of his State who were facing eviction orders.
In a statement issued soon after Modi’s rally in Pathankot, Bajwa said at his Jagraon rally during his last visit to Punjab, Modi had categorically assured that no farmer from his State would be allowed to be evicted but he had so far failed to take any follow up action.
The basic issue in this case was the withdrawal of the special leave petition filed in the Supreme Court by the Gujarat Government against the orders of the State High Court which had granted relief to these beleaguered farmers settled there for the last about 50 years, he asserted.
He castigated Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for maintaining a stony silence on this issue and added that it was strange that Badal and his party were seeking votes in the names of Modi but had not touched upon any issue concerning this border State.
“The impression of Modi being anti-minorities has been further reinforced from his speech at Pathankot in which he totally ignored the plight of the Gujarat Sikh farmers who have not been extended any relief as that is only possible in case the Modi Government withdraws the SlP from the Supreme Court”, he added.
Earlier, the ex-servicemen of Gurdaspur extended support to Bajwa. In a show of strength led by Brig (retd) Kuleep Singh Kahlon, the ex-servicemen thanked Bajwa for the implementation of One Rank-One Pension by UPA Government. They assured Bajwa of full support in the polls.
Bajwa said despite the notification having been issued by the UPA Government, the BJP was trying to create confusion which amounted to playing with the sentiments of the ex-servicemen.
Speaking at the rally, Bajwa reminded the ex-servicemen that after 32 years UPA Government has met the long pending demand of one rank - one pension. He said UPA Government has taken this cause to a logical end in favour of ex-servicemen.