Demanding complete farm loan waiver as promised by the Congress party in its manifesto, the Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janta Party MlAs staged protests during the Budget speech of Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Tuesday.
As Manpreet announced budget outlay of Rs 1500 crore for the debt waiver, SAD-BJP MlAs sought the Speaker Rana KP Singh's permission to speak. After the Speaker denied them permission to make a point, SAD-BJP MlAs trooped into the well and started shouting slogans demanding complete loan waiver.
SAD-BJP MlAs tore off papers and hurled them towards the Chair though they fell short of the Speaker's seat.
later, addressing the media, SAD president Sukhbir Badal lashed out at
Congress Government for going back on its polls promise.
"Before elections, the Congress promised a total farm loan waiver and even made farmers fill up forms for the same...In past 90 days, 90 farmers have committed suicide. We demand the Congress Government to fulfil its pre-poll promise. But this is not possible with budget outlay of just Rs 1,500 crore," he said while showing a video clip of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh promising complete loan waiver before elections.
He said the total farm loans in Punjab are close to Rs 90,000 crore and even for the payment of the interest amount of farm loans, the government would require at least Rs 8,000 crore.
"Rs 1,500 crore earmarked by the Government for farm loan waiver will thus suffice only for three months. It's a big fraud with Punjab farmers in the name of loan waiver," he said.