Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday passed a resolution recommending the State Government to approach the Centre for implementing the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission report, which suggested 50 per cent profit over and above the input cost to farmers. On the last day of the ongoing Budget session, the “official” resolution was moved by the State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal. The resolution read, “This House strongly recommends to the State Government to approach the Central Government to implement the recommendations of Dr Swaminathan Committee concerning the farmers.”
Participating in the discussion on the resolution, Congress legislature Party (ClP) leader Sunil Jakhar pressed for implementing the report of Swaminathan Commission while describing farming as "unviable" because of lack of non-remunerative prices. “It’s not a matter of quantity, but that of viability. Farming is now no more viable and farmers are not finding it profitable,” said Jakhar while accusing the BJP-led Central Government of not implementing the Swaminathan Commission report despite having promised the same to voters before the elections.
Citing example of cotton, basmati, guar prices dropping by almost 25-30 per cent this season as compared to the previous season, he pointed out that the farmers have been suffering because of "lesser" prices being fetched for their crops which has added to their woes. “Maize crop which was promoted by the State Government could fetch only Rs850-900 per quintal as against MSP (minimum support price) of Rs1,350 per quintal,” he said.
Jakhar also lashed out at the Centre for filing an affidavit in the Apex Court submitting that they could not implement the Swaminathan report. At the same time, Jakhar opined to invite Dr Swaminathan to the State and "have an all-party meeting. He would tell us the limitations, you take our suggestions, call some farmers". Agriculture Minister Tota Singh suggested that to save the farmers, every crop should have the MSP. Maintaining that farmers' issue was that of the country, he added that all States should come together with the centre to formulate a plan to save farmers.
Justifying BJP-led Centre's stand, BJP MlA Manoranjan Kalia said that the NDA Government would surely fulfill its "agenda" to implement Swaminathan report as now the new Government was making efforts to improve the country's economy and growth rate was witnessing rise. Congress MlA Rana Gurjit demanded that till the report was not implemented, the Centre should ensure that MSP be increased by Rs300 every year.
KOMAGATA MARU INCIDENT: APOlOGY SOUGHT FROM CANADIAN PARlIAMENT
More than a century after "19 freedom fighters" were shot inhumanly in 1914's Komagata Maru ship tragedy, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha "unanimously" passed a resolution urging the Centre to seek apology from Canadian Government for its "atrocities". In a historic resolution, the Assembly demanded that "the Indian Government should seek apology from Canadian Government in Canadian Parliament for the atrocities committed by them on the Indian people as they have apologised to the Chinese and Japanese people for the inhuman behavior meted out to them".
Going into background, the historic incident involved a Japanese steamship - Komagata Maru - that sailed from Hong Kong, Shanghai, China to Yokohama, Japan and then to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1914, carrying 376 passengers from Punjab, British India. Of them 24 were admitted to Canada, but 352 other passengers were not allowed to land in Canada, and the ship was forced to return to India. The passengers consisted of 340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims, and 12 Hindus, all British subjects.
"A ship carrying freedom fighter was detained by the Canadian government on the Vancouver Port from May 23 to July 23 in 1914, and at last, the ship was forced to return back to India. When this ship, full of Indian reached back at Bajbaj port of Calcutta on September 29, 1914, the cruel British Government shot 19 freedom fighters and put many behind prison cells," said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal while introducing the official resolution.
Supporting the resolution, Congress MlA and former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said that Indian Parliament should also pass this resolution. Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema speaking said that the party would request the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to pursue this issue with the Centre. Describing the incident as a "human rights violation", SAD MlA Gurpartap Singh Wadala demanded that a memorial should be constructed in the memory of the incident.
"The Canadian State British Columbia has apologised for this tragedy and now Canadian Parliament should also do the same…An official stamp commemorating 100th anniversary was released by Canada Post recently. Punjab government should also take initiative to organise a State-level function every year to commemorate that," he said.
ASSEMBlY RESOlVES for RESIDENTIAl ACCOMMODATION TO FORMER SPEAKERS
On the pattern of the Centre, the House passed a resolution to urging the State Government provide government residential accommodation to the former Speakers of the Vidhan Sabha and lok Sabha at concessional rates.
HOUSE PASSES RESOlUTION TO SET UP HOUSING SOCIETY FOR MlAs
Assembly unanimously passed a resolution asking the state government to set up a housing society for the MlAs.