'SAD ready to make any sacrifice for welfare of farmers'

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday stated that his party was ready to go all the way to secure the rights of farmers. Further, he requested chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to collectively write to the Union government on behalf of all political parties in Punjab to get a clear cut answer as to whether there was any truth in the propaganda about the end to the MSP system for the purchase of food grains.

Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said that his party was ready to make any sacrifice for the welfare of farmers and the disadvantaged sections of society, further they would steadfastly continue to protect the rights of Punjabis and the core principle of federalism.

The SAD President, who made a singular epoch making speech on this issue which deflated the Congress party’s crude attempt to politicize the central Ordinances on Agriculture, made it clear that for the SAD no ministry, government and alliance was beyond the welfare of the ‘annadaata’. “We are also committed to federalism and we find it shocking that the Congress party which has systematically demolished it is now talking about it now”.

Mr Badal said “As far as we are concerned, our only interest is whether it is in the interest of the farmers of the state or not. There is no provision in the Ordinance on Farmers Produce and Trade that MSP will end. In fact if we study the issue we find that the Punjab government has already amended the State APMC Act to implement the provisions of the Ordinance in August, 2017. These include creation of private yards, direct marketing and e trading”.

The SAD President also advised Pradesh Congress President Sunil Jakhar not to spread disinformation. He said even today multinationals and flour mills did not pay any tax to purchase food grains. “When multinationals can do trade today why are we resorting to scare tactics by claiming they will capture the entire market when the Union agriculture minister has already clarified that the entire government procurement will take place from Mandis. This means there will not be any difference in revenue collection of around Rs 4,000 crore."

Further, he requested chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to collectively write to the Union government on behalf of all political parties in Punjab to get a clear cut answer as to whether there was any truth in the propaganda about the end to the MSP system for purchase of food grains.

Stating that economists had also disclosed that farmers would benefit due to competition, Mr Badal said the argument that the Ordinance could be harmful in the long run did not hold any ground. He also disclosed how the Ordinance on contract farming would make companies legally bound to purchase crops as per agreements with farmers. He said the amendment in the Essential Commodities Act would allow storing which would be beneficial to farmers in a glut scenario.

Mr Badal said an All Party meeting should also be held to discuss the repercussions of the illicit liquor, seed and ration scams on Punjab. He said the State had suffered a loss of Rs 5,600 crore in the liquor scam even as the chief minister had admitted that 30,000 quintals of spurious seed had been sold in the State. He said the ration scam had resulted in denial of central food relief to the poor.

He also pointed out that many political leaders had been called to the meeting who did not have any party. He said similarly legislators who were separate political entities had not been called to the meeting. Moreover, the SAD President participated in the All Party meeting along with senior leaders including Mr Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, Jathedar Tota Singh and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema.