Scrap farm debt, Capt urges PM

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 22

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and batted for a farm debt waiver for the state.

In his first meeting with the PM post-anointment as the Punjab CM, Capt Amarinder cited the BJP’s promise of a farm loan waiver for Uttar Pradesh to seek a similar scheme for Punjab. Earlier in the day, he met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at the latter’s residence to seek support for crop procurement arrangements. He was accompanied by Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal.

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“Wheat should arrive in mandis in two to three days. The FM has assured us of all help by March 25,” he said. Jaitley said he would direct the RBI to ensure all arrangements for wheat procurement in the state are in place by March 25. “We also sought authorisation and release of Rs 20,683 crore cash credit limit (CCL) from the Centre for smooth and timely wheat procurement in the state. The FM has assured us of help,” Capt Amarinder said.

The CM requested the Ministry of Finance to ensure timely authorisation of CCL, which was still pending.

Later, Capt Amarinder called on President Pranab Mukherjee. “It was a courtesy call,” he said.