Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday welcomed the Capt Amarinder Singh Government’s decision to scrap ‘kurki’ to bring succour to the state’s debt-ridden farmers.
Terming it as first in a series of farmer-friendly decisions to be taken by the Government to rescue the State’s beleaguered peasantry from the debt crisis, Jakhar thanked the Chief Minister for fulfilling his poll promise to provide the much required relief to the farmers from auction of their land to repay their loans.
“Capt Amarinder, by abolishing Section 67-A of Punjab Cooperative Societies Act 1961, has done a huge service to the farmers of the State and displayed his strong will and dedication to the cause of the farming community of the State,” said Jakhar.
He said the Government’s move to abolish kurki should be welcomed by all political parties, particularly those which claim to be pro-farmers.
PPCC chief hoped that the State Government would also soon announce the impending farm debt waiver — another poll promise of the Congress party — which would be another major step in providing relief to the farming sector.
He pointed out that the Commission under former CACP head T Haq was working to assess the quantum of agricultural debt.
Noting that the farmers of Punjab had been instrumental in making the country self-sufficient in the production of food grains, Jakhar said the Congress Government was committed to waiving off their debts and alleviating their sufferings, and appealed to the farming community not to commit suicides.
Reiterating the party’s strong commitment to uplift the farming sector reeling under a severe debt crisis due to the mismanagement of erstwhile SAD-BJP Government, Jakhar assured that his party and the State Government would work cohesively to find lasting solutions to the problems of the farmers and the party would act as a link between the Government and the masses.
BKU thanks Capt for abolishing ‘kurki’
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) on Wednesday thanked Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for taking a bold decision to end kurki of agriculture land. BKU national president Bhupinder Singh Mann and Punjab unit head Baldev Singh Mianpur, in a joint statement, thanked Capt Amarinder for taking the “bold” decision which will help lakhs of farmers who have taken loan from the Cooperative banks.
Mann also appreciated the decision to form a sub-committee to review the Agriculture Debt Reconciliation Act, 2016, for creating a more “enabling environment” for agriculture.
Mianpur said renaming the Agriculture Department as Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department will give a new direction and preamble to the department and its officials to work for welfare of farmers.