Protest politically motivated: Dy CM

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 8

Even as various farmer organisations continue to block rail traffic across the state for the second day today, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal termed their protest as “politically motivated” while defending his government on farm crisis. Talking to the media after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple today, Sukhbir said the agitation by some farmers’ organisations was “politically influenced”. He asked the unions to discuss their grievances, if any, with the Chief Minister instead of resorting to agitation and inconveniencing the common man.

He said they had raised the issue of farmers with the Prime Minister to pave the way for export of basmati and ban on its import. He said white fly had caused more damage to cotton crop in states like Rajasthan and Haryana as compared to Punjab, but Punjab had announced the maximum compensation of Rs644 crore for the affected farmers. He said the government had ensured best purchase of sugarcane and cleared all arrears of cooperative mills.

Makkar, Sirsa meet Dy CM

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday met Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. Though everyone is tightlipped about the meeting, sources say the controversy surrounding the Sikh clergy’s pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief was discussed. Makkar and Sirsa earlier had a close-door meeting with Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh on Wednesday in which they deliberated over the setting up of a committee over the issue.

Youth films visit, detained

A youth was detained while he was shooting a video during the visit of Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal to the Golden Temple. Sukhbir’s security personnel caught hold of the youth when they spotted him shooting a video. He was taken to the “parikarma” where he was interrogated. The video footage shot by him was scrutinised before he was let off. The youth was accompanying a senior office-bearer of the SGPC.