Punjab polls 2017: AAP''s farmer manifesto

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Baghapurana (Moga), September 11

The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday promised to implement the Swaminathan panel report and make Punjab farmers debt-free by 2018, as it released the farmer manifesto at a mega rally at Baghapurana in the district.

At a rally that saw thousands attend it, AAP promised to implement the Sir Chhotu Ram Act in the state and put an end to farmer suicides by December 2018. It also promised to waive loans beyond a threshold.

AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, MPs Bhagwant Mann and Sadhu Singh, state convener Gurpreet Ghuggi and AAP leader Sanjay Singh, among other leaders, were present at the event. 

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Former Congress leader Jagmeet Brar felicitated Arvind Kejriwal on the dais.

Mounting an attack on the Badal family, Kejriwal said Badals were responsible for the woes of farmers and driving them to suicide.

He also slammed Badals for “suppressing” farmers for the past many years.

Claiming that AAP will come to power in Punjab with a thumping majority, Kejriwal said, “We will put Agriculture Minister Tota Singh, Adesh Partap Singh, Bikram Majithia and Sukhbir Badal behind the bars and confiscate their properties.”

Calling Majithia a “druglord”, he also took a jibe at Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh for “supporting” the minister.

Kejriwal said the Congress and SAD-BJP will play a friendly match in the assembly polls. He apprehended that “Badals might orchestrate an attack” on him.

“We will restore the lost glory of the farming community of Punjab,” Kejriwal said, adding that on coming to power the AAP government will confiscate all buses of the Badal family and hand them over to unemployed youths.

“We will also confiscate properties of chit fund companies that committed frauds with people. All fake and fabricated drug cases will be cancelled.”

He asked Badals to remove corrupt ministers before coming to people to seek votes.

Appealing for votes, AAP’s newly-appointed state convener Gurpreet Ghuggi said if voted to power they will restore 'mela' culture in Punjab that was a tradition of the state.

There will be zero tolerance to illegal trade of drugs besides corruption, Ghuggi said, adding that job avenues will be created for 25 lakh youngsters.

Calling Punjab the food basket of the country, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann told a cheering crowd, “We will drive farmers to prosperity and restore their lost glory.”

Highlights of farmer manifesto:

— Promises to pay Rs 10,000 a month to farm labourers as compensation for loss of income during natural calamities.

— No property will be confiscated or attached in default of payment of loans.

— Will implement the Swaminathan panel report.

—  On SYL canal: Against sharing river waters with other states; promises to return land acquired for the project.

— Promises 12-hour uninterrupted power supply free of cost to farmers. No meters for tubewell connections.

— Shagun scheme amount will be raised to Rs 51,000.

— Promises Rs 21,000 on birth of child, to raise old-age pension to Rs 2,000 per month.

— AAP leader Kanwar Sandhu read out the farmer manifesto. 

— Promises continue the Atta-Dal scheme, to bring in 10 lakh new consumers; also to increase the number of ration items.

— Rs 5-lakh health cover in all government and private hospitals for farmers and farm labourers.

— Life term for sale of fake pesticides and adulterated milk; law will be amended accordingly.

— Will promote dairy farming, fisheries and other alternative practices of agriculture.

— Promises Rs 10,000 per acre compensation for farmers having land beyond the fence along the Indo-Pak border.

— Will be take steps to tackle cattle menace.

— Promises village committees for land disputes.     

— Will restructure the food procurement system in the grain markets

— Will open village clinics in all villages.