Punjab Congress legislature party leader Sunil Jakhar on Friday said the state farmers, who suffered losses due to untimely rain and rough weather conditions, were becoming the victims of the “image-building politics” of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) combine.
Jakhar said both state and central governments had failed to address the farmers’ concerns. Crops on lakhs of hectares have been damages due to rain and hailstorm, but the state government as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi have not announced any compensation to the farmers, who are already reeling under huge debt, said the Congress leader.
“No BJP or SAD leader from the state met the PM seeking relief for the farmers. This has exposed their so-called pro-farmer claims,” said Jakhar.
He said Modi tried to shirk from his responsibility when he announced that the Union government would provide more rights and share in the central taxes to states. The state government is also doing the same by saying that it has written to the Union government for compensation to the farmers and Rs 100 per quintal bonus on the minimum support price, said Jakhar.
Sharing a report of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana released in December last year, the Congress leader said Punjab was the most incapable state in spending on the agriculture sector from 2011 to 2014. He said during these years, the Union government allocated Rs 1,246 crore to the state, but the SAD-BJP government spent only 59% of the total funds.
Sharing a report of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana released in December last year, the Congress leader said Punjab was the most incapable state in spending on the agriculture sector from 2011 to 2014. He said during these years, the Union government allocated Rs 1,246 crore to the state, but the SAD-BJP government spent only 59% of the total funds.