Chandigarh, 23 September(Wishav Warta): Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira released a hard hitting statement today severely castigated Capt. Amarinder Singh for indulging in favoritism and nepotism, by paying back Rs. 84 lac penal rent levied on Ex-CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal for overstaying in her official bungalow House No. 45 Sector 2, Chandigarh. Khaira stated that this was a perfect example of wrong priorities and feudalism by Capt. Amarinder Singh, particularly at a time when Punjab is facing colossal bankruptcy of Rs. 2.50 lac crore and its agrarian economy under a debt of Rs. 1 lac crore.
Khaira chided Capt. Amarinder Singh that he could have used this Rs. 84 lac for writing off the debt of many small and marginal families saving them from the menace of suicides.
Khaira said on one hand the Finance Minister Manpreet Badal is advocating shunning of a meal to help farmers tide over the debt crisis, while on the other hand cabinet is showering huge largesse upon a wealthy leader like Bhattal. Khaira further stated that this feudal act of Captain also amounted to promoting defaulters and encouraging politicians to break the laws, only to be compensated by public exchequer.
Khaira also took to task Capt. Amarinder Singh for lying and misleading people on the burning issue of farm suicides. Capt. on his return from London downplayed the suicides by fudging data and claiming that only 131 farmers had committed suicides during his six month rule, which was less than the corresponding period of Badal rule in 2016. This is nothing but a bundle of lies, cock and bull story and gross cheating with the electorate, said Khaira.
LoP Khaira while releasing a data chart (copy attached) collected by his Vidhan Sabha office, claimed that as many as 211 farmers had committed suicides and not 131 as being claimed by Capt. In the same breath Khaira vehemently condemned the dictatorial attitude of Capt. Amarinder Singh towards the 7 farmer organizations protesting the bogus debt waiver in Punjab, by arresting them and gagging their voice through his draconian police.
Khaira lamented that the recent notification of debt waiver was not only insufficient but is also aimed for cheap political gains in the ensuing Gurdaspur by-poll.
Lastly Khaira demanded that the Capt. Amarinder Singh government must review its erroneous order to payback a whopping Rs. 84 lac penalty to Bhattal. He also urged Bhattal not to accept this largesse showered upon her at a time when farmers were committing suicides for meager sums of Rs. 1 lac – 2 lac – 3 lac etc. It would enhance her political status, said Khaira.