SAD-BJP leaders approach Guv, seek total debt waiver

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12

A delegation of the SAD-BJP alliance today asked Governor VP Singh Badnore to direct the Congress government to implement the Rs 90,000-crore farm loan waiver for all farmers and ensure that loans of farm labourers and Dalits are also waived.

The delegation, led by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and state BJP chief Vijay Sampla, also requested the Governor to ask the state government to get all sacrilege cases that occurred during the SAD-BJP rule and the Congress’ present tenure probed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. The allies urged the Governor to direct the government to register a criminal case against Sanaur leader Harinderpal Mann for allegedly instigating Congress workers to “murder” their Akali rivals.

They told the Governor that the Congress government had deceived and betrayed farmers by refusing to honour its commitment to implement a complete loan waiver. Submitting a video clip, they highlighted the promise made by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh that all loans taken from banks and private money lenders would be waived.

The leaders, including SAD MPs Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Prem Singh Chandumajra, said suicides by farmers were increasing by the day due to the government’s flawed scheme.

The delegation also included ex-ministers Bikram Singh Majithia, Daljit Singh Cheema and Manoranjan Kalia and former state BJP chiefs Ashwani Sharma and Kamal Sharma.

BJP to hold dharnas on Jan 16

Fazilka:Former minister and senior BJP leader Surjit Kumar Jyani has announced that the BJP would hold dharnas at all district headquarters of the state on January 16 over the Congress government not waiving the loans of a large number of farmers. Jyani claimed that 314 ebt-ridden farmers have committed suicide after the Congress came to power in the state as they had failed to repay loans taken from commission agents and banks. — OC

Did what in 10 years, Jakhar asks Akalis

Chandigarh: PPCC president Sunil Jakhar on Friday dared the SAD to come clean on their stand over waiving of farmers’ debts. Referring to the SAD delegation meeting the Governor on the debt waiver scheme, Jakhar questioned the Akalis on not waiving debts during their 10-year regime in the state. “If at all they are sincere to debt-ridden farmers, let them approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get all kind of debts written off,” he added. For the past three years, the SAD leaders failed to take up the issue with the Centre despite suicides by hundreds of farmers, he said. Recalling that the Badal-led government had passed the Punjab Settlement of Agricultural Indebtness Bill in 2016, Jakhar said the so-called “saviours of farmers” later preferred to dump the same in the cold store. Their government failed to set up agricultural debt settlement forums, he added. TNS