Chandigarh: Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Friday reached Cheema Mandi Sunam to support the cause of agitating BKU Sidhupur farmers, prevented by Punjab police to proceed for their all India protest at Delhi which was slated for 23rd February 2018.
Khaira while addressing the Dharna lambasted Capt. Amarinder Singh for playing into the hands of BJP and Modi by detaining the farmers at Cheema Mandi near Sunam. Khaira said it was a black day for Indian democracy, as the voice of farmers is being gagged by the BJP and the Congress jointly. He said 67 farm organizations had planned to hold an all India protest against the mounting debt on farmers leading to nationwide suicides. Farmers across India are up in arms against gross discrimination on the issue of unfair pricing of their crops, he said.
LoP Khaira said Capt. has not only cheated the farmers of Punjab by making false promises of loan waiver but is now acting vindictively against them, by not allowing them to even protest peacefully against the Modi government by going to Delhi. LoP Khaira said as per data collected by his Vidhan Sabha office, more than 360 farmers have committed suicides in the state ever since Capt. Amarinder Singh assumed the office of Chief Minister on 16th March 2017. (list attached)
Addressing the Dharna Khaira said Modi government is going to help defaulting corporate honchos by waiving off their Non Performing Assets (NPA’s) to the tune of Rs. 8 lac crore, on the pretext of bailing out nationalized banks, but is turning a complete blind eye when it comes to debt of the farmers.
LoP Khaira promised the agitating farmers, that AAP would bring an official resolution in the ensuing budget session of the Vidhan Sabha, seeking implementation of Swaminathan Committee recommendations of 50 percent profit to farmers over and above all input costs while fixing the MSP of crops. Khaira also assured the farmers that they will press upon the Capt. Amarinder Singh government to fulfill the promise of complete debt waiver of farmers including the banks and commission agents, which is approx. Rs. 1 lac crore.
Khaira complimented the bravery of farmers for continuing their Dharna ever since 22nd February, when they were prevented from going to Delhi. He said by preventing farmers from proceeding to Delhi, Capt. Amarinder Singh has once again showed that he is hand in glove with BJP as well as the SAD, who too are maintaining a stoic silence over gross discrimination with farmers.
