Interacting with farmers during the Coffee with Captain here on Saturday, Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh assured them of working for their betterment, if voted to power in the upcoming assembly polls in the state.
The former chief minister also promised to lower the power tariff to Rs 4 per unit for all domestic consumers by applying a cess on the national grid price besides continuing to provide free electricity to farmers to run their tubewells.
Lashing out at the Punjab government, Captain said: “They have destroyed all that I had created. I had done the ground work for creating 20 lakh jobs, but Akalis brought it to naught on coming to power. By increasing the power tariff and delaying payment of procured crops, the government has sidelined Punjab’s pride (farmers).”
Captain alleged several pro-farmer projects started by the Congress government under his leadership were stopped midway by the SAD-BJP government. He also spoke in support of the Swaminathan Commission report and said his government will ensure the implementation of its recommendations.
Promising there will be no farmer suicide under his regime, the Punjab Congress chief said all farm debts will be waived and the government will ensure that land of debt-ridden farmers is not auctioned. He also promised to help small farmers through cooperative banks and make special policies for them, including subsidy on pesticides. Stressing the importance of crop diversification, Amarinder Singh encouraged farmers to grow crops other than rice and wheat as well.
{{/usCountry}}Promising there will be no farmer suicide under his regime, the Punjab Congress chief said all farm debts will be waived and the government will ensure that land of debt-ridden farmers is not auctioned. He also promised to help small farmers through cooperative banks and make special policies for them, including subsidy on pesticides. Stressing the importance of crop diversification, Amarinder Singh encouraged farmers to grow crops other than rice and wheat as well.
{{/usCountry}}Farmers from across the region along with agricultural experts and scientists attended the interactive session that was organised by members of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC). Previously, similar events were also organised in Patiala, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Chandigarh, where youth had interacted with Captain. One such programme was held with ex-servicemen in Pathankot.