Tarn Taran: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had not only failed to give compensation for crop losses in the recent floods, but had also reneged on it’s promise to disburse certified seed to flood hit farmers for five lakh acres of land and was refusing to come to the aid of farmers struck by virus disease in their paddy crop.
Addressing public meetings across numerous villages in this constituency in favour of Principal Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, the SAD president said “even now the AAP government is oblivious to the suffering of farmers. Nothing is being done to offset the losses of farmers on account of the virus disease which has reduced paddy yield by 20 per cent. Farmers are also finding it difficult to get their paddy crop procured and are being forced to sell short. However the government is doing nothing to help them”.
Asserting that the SAD alone was the answer to their problems, Badal urged the people to repose trust in their own regional which was committed to uplifting the farmers and the poor and had a track record of the same. “All Delhi based parties including the Congress, AAP and the BJP want to exploit and loot you. The SAD on the other hand has a track record of speedy development as well as establishment of mega infrastructure projects be it roads and expressways or thermal plants and airports”.
Badal also spoke on how vacancies in government jobs were not being filled. He said the AAP government had only given 25,000 jobs to youth in the last four years compared to 2.5 lakh jobs given during Akali tenure. “Even out of these 25,000 jobs, at least half have gone to outsiders by changing rules framed during the SAD government. Once we come back to power in 2027 we will ensure government jobs are given to Punjabis only”.
The SAD president also appealed to the people to remember the misrule of the previous Congress government and how it had gone back on its promise to waive off farmer loans. He also pointed out how Punjab Congress President Raja Warring had constantly lauded former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who had ordered the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib in 1984.
He also called for the immediate release of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana saying the latter had already been imprisoned for more than 28 years.
He toured numerous villages today including Bhusse, Manakpur, Gandiwind, Deode, Chhapa and Tarntaran city.
