Expressing grave concern at the economic loss caused to Punjabis including farmers as well as trade and industry by the ongoing economic blockade of the State, the SAD on Tuesday asked the Centre and the State to hold talks and resolve the issue at the earliest. The party’s core committee, during its meeting presided over by SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, stated that Punjab was paying a very heavy price due to the ongoing fixed match between the BJP-led Central Government and the Congress Govt in Punjab.
“the While farmers are not getting supply of much needed fertilizer for sowing the wheat crop, the trade and industry is losing crores on a daily basis due to the blockade. Even as the State’s economy is bleeding, there is danger of social unrest spoiling the peace of Punjab,” it noted.
The committee stated that it appeared CM Capt Amarinder Singh was playing a double game and had hatched a conspiracy to pit farmers against the trade and industry in the State. “It appears the CM is deliberately not taking any initiative to resolve the current imbroglio because he feels that the more the issue lingers the more attention will be diverted from the failures of his government”, said Sukhbir in the committee meeting. Sukhbir said that the CM preferred to go to Delhi to hold a one hour sham ‘dharna’ but did not meet the Railways Minister or the Prime Minister to ensure freight train services were resumed in Punjab. “Even now, he is not engaging in any dialogue with the Centre and has left Punjabis to their fate. Such an attitude could have dangerous fallout for the industrial sector in Punjab which is witnessing huge losses due to non-availability of raw materials as well as pile up of finished goods.
We want that all issue of the trade and industry should be resolved at the earliest including immediate refunds of GST due to them and reduction in power tariffs to ensure there is no flight of capital from the State,” he added.
Warning Capt Amarinder not to play with fire, Sukhbir observed that the Chief Minister had earlier also backstabbed Punjabis by taking false oaths in the name of the Dasam Pitah.