Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday said that the sudden concern of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for farmers was merely a political stunt and blamed the Congress party and Gandhi family for farmers’ plight across the country.
“The long spell of Congress party’s misrule under the Gandhi family had broken the backbone of farmers,” he said, adding that the farmers have been ruined by regressive policies of the party.
“It was ironic that those responsible for farmers’ plight are now shedding crocodile tears,” Badal said while interacting with the media on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan programme in lambi assembly segment. Rahul Gandhi had on June 18 visited the State the bereaved family members of a farmer who had committed suicide, a month after meeting and briefing the Congress vice-president on the distress caused by crop loss due to unseasonal rain. Badal said that the sole purpose of the visit was to score “brownie points” rather than solving issues confronting farmers.
“Now after being rejected by the voters, you are showing concern for the farmers. Where were you when your Government was taking anti-farmer decisions,” he asked Rahul Gandhi.
Badal said that ever-escalating farm input costs coupled with non-remunerative MSP for crops have rendered agriculture a non-profitable venture.
GOVT TO APTlY REPlY CONGRESS’ PRIVIlEGE MOTION ON POWER
Reacting to Congress legislative Party (ClP) leader Sunil Jakhar’s statement regarding moving privilege motion against the ruling regime, Badal said that the Government was prepared to give a befitting reply to the Congress party’s ‘privilege motion’ in the State Assembly on the issue of power.
“In a democratic system, it is right of the Opposition to bring such motions and the Government would reply to it with facts to their satisfaction,” he said.
“I welcome Opposition them to a healthy debate on any issue,” he added.
SATISFIED OVER PSPCl’S ARRANGEMENTS DURING PADDY SEASON
Referring to the issue of ensuring continuous power supply to the farmers during ongoing paddy season, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by Punjab State Power Corporation limited (PSPCl).
He said that the State Government has made all out efforts to ensure uninterrupted power supply to farmers and domestic consumers even in the pick season.