Punjab Govt orders payment of sugarcane farmers after criticism by own MP

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh assured that the state government would soon clear its dues of the cooperative sugar mills. Singh has ordered Sugarfed to pay a balance amount of Rs.149 crore to the farmers.

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa wrote a letter to Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh on June 2, requesting payment of sugarcane farmers. Responding to which, Punjab CM assured that the state government would soon clear its dues of the cooperative sugar mills.

Interestingly hours after Bajwa’s letter, Punjab Congress leaders attacked him for criticising own party and government. The cabinet minister for Local Bodies and Parliamentary Affairs Brahm Mohindra took dig at Bajwa for going public on the issues he should ideally have raised on party and govt platform. Mohindra even suggested Bajwa send a letter addressed to CM to CM office instead of media houses.

Ten days after the letter, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered Sugarfed to pay balance amount of Rs.149 crore to liquidate full arrears of Rs.299 crore payable to the cane growers by the Cooperative Sugar Mills.

Meanwhile, on the directives of the Chief Minister, the Finance Department sanctioned Rs.150 crore to make the outstanding payment of the farmers of Cooperative Sugar Mills, while the balance amount of Rs.149 crore would be paid by the Sugarfed from its own resources.

Reacting to the decision, Bajwa said, ”I thank Government of Punjab for taking immediate steps to release funds to clear arrears due to sugarcane farmers. My colleagues and I had raised this issue with the hope that the Government would ensure that the farmers of Punjab are looked after."

"It is also my hope Chief Minister that you will personally intervene with the private sugar mills as the Agricultural portfolio comes under your direct purview. As you are aware that about Rs. 383 crore is due to farmers from these private mills, I urge you to step in and ensure that these dues are paid at the earliest.

I am once again grateful for the actions of your Government so far, but pray that you will use all legal means available in having the dues cleared by private sugar mills," he added.

Bajwa is often seen as criticizing Punjab Govt and Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh on various policies.

This is not the first time cabinet minister took dig at Bajwa. Bajwa and Capt Amarinder are political opponents. Capt Amarinder Singh was removed from the post of Punjab Congress Chief after the party lost two assembly polls in 2007 and 2012.

Bajwa was made chief of state but before 2017 Bajwa was removed and Capt Amarinder was made state head. Bajwa has been a constant critic of Punjab Govt under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh. In Jan 2020, Bajwa had called for “Capt Mukat Congress” (Congress without Capt) in Punjab and council of ministers demanded disciplinary action against Bajwa for his remarks.