Chandigarh: Hitting out at Punjab Pradesh Congress president Sunil Jakhar, SAD spokesmen and former minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal said that Jakhar has a negative mindset like his party president Rahul Gandhi who finds faults where none exit and would be critical of even best steps taken by the Union government.
Grewal said that the outright criticism of the proposed “ Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi” which assures a farm support system of providing Rs. 6000 per annum to the small and marginal farmers was totally unwarranted.
“Instead of appreciating the out of box thinking of the union government to take measures to ameliorate the condition of the poor farmers, the Congress leaders are critical as the amount offered was too meager”, said Grewal.
“ Shockingly, the Congress party which ruled from 2004 to 20014 failed to offer even such a meager amount to farming community,” rued Grewal arguing that the NDA government has introduced the concept of a regular support to small and marginal farmers. Moreover, the quantum of farm support is not fixed for eternity and it would certainly increase each year, he added.
The SAD has already flagged the low support and demanded that the farm support be doubled to 12,000 per annum.
The Akali leader argued that the union finance minister has already amply clarified that this was a mere “vote and account“ and just the beginning , a mere trailer while the real picture would emerge when the final budget is to tabled in July this year.
Moreover, the Akali Dal has sought that Punjab government should offer a matching grant to support the farmers. Therefore, Mr. Jakhar instead of criticizing the Union government, should have approached the Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh or finance minister Manpreet Singh for matching support from state government .
”The welfare of farmers is not only concern of the Union government but the state government too,” averred Grewal.
“If the Congress is allergic to contribute to Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman NIdhi, the Punjab government should create a similar fund rechristened as Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi “ to pay more to the farmers .”The welfare of farmers is not only concern of the Union government but the state government too,” argued Grewal.
Moreover, as the nomenclature of the proposed fund suggests that it is just a “Samman Nidhi”, the farm support system should not be seen in isolation of the other measures inter alias proposed massive hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of the various crops in recent past.
The duo pointed out that a large section of the small and marginal farmers are unable to avail of the MSP as these farmers haven no farm surplus and their farm produce are more of less is for the family consumption. The proposed farm support, albeit a small amount, would be of immense value to small and marginal farmers, said the duo.