Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday urged the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to direct Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to immediately waive farm loans in the state.
“It was Capt Amarinder’s bounden duty to deliver on his promise to waive farm loans, but in case implementation of this promise was delayed, as is the case, Rahul should step in and provide immediate reprieve to Punjab farmers,” he said.
Capt Amarinder can learn from ex-Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Uttar Pardesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said, adding that senior Badal had implemented the free power facility for farmers immediately after taking over the reins of the state in 1997.
He said that the Adityanath government fulfilled BJP's poll promise by announcing a farm loan waiver in its first cabinet meeting and Capt Amarinder should not be found wanting.
SAD president said that Rahul applauded the loan waiver decision of the UP government and called for replicating it in other states. “Rahul should lead by example and ask all Congress- ruled states, including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, to waive farm loans,” he said.
“Rahul had even more reason to intervene in case of Punjab as the state Congress had promised to implement a one-time complete farm loan waiver scheme in its election manifesto,” said Sukhbir adding that the manifesto was vetted and approved by Rahul.
“In such circumstances Rahul is morally bound to get this solemn promise implemented,” he added.
“Punjab farmers are looking up to Capt Amarinder to announce a complete loan waiver and he should not disappoint them by delaying action by setting up committees,” he said.