Punjab needs farsighted agri minister: Khaira

Our Correspondent

Jagraon, December 11

The Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira today said, “The Congress has failed to live upto the expectations of farmers, who are disappointed from the state government led by Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh.”

He said, “It is an irony that despite being an agrarian state there is no separate agriculture minister in Punjab.”

Terming it a failure of the government, Khaira sought immediate appointment of a competent, farsighted and dedicated person as agriculture minister to pull Punjab out of the present crisis.

This was stated by Khaira while addressing mediapersons on the concluding day of the 12th ‘International Dairy and Agri Expo’, being organised by Progressive Dairy Farmers Association (PDFA), at Cattle Fair Ground here. Appreciating efforts being of the PDFA, Khaira said, “Dairy farming is one of the best options for farmers to come out of the present agriculture crises. Asking farmers to keep no hope from the government, he suggested them to adopt dairy farming as secondary occupation to improve their economic condition by themselves.” He also distributed prizes among winner dairy farmers on the occasion.

“More than 300 farmers have committed suicide since the formation of the Congress government nine months ago, which is a very serious issue. Agriculture is life line of Punjab, but the state government has spared a little budget for agriculture, which reflects upon its approach towards this sector,” he added.

“The Congress government is not serious for solving problems of farmers, which is clear from the fact that it has also been running away from promise of loan waiver it had made with them before the Assembly elections,” he said.

“Unfortunately, Punjab did never get a competent and visionary person as agriculture minister during the past governments, who could guide farmers and show them the right direction. This is also one of the main reasons behind the agriculture crisis we have been facing at present,” he added.

Khaira also announced that during the next Assembly session, he would raise the issue of adulteration of milk and other eatables.

“Adulteration of milk or any other eatable is a dangerous and serious issue. Apart from playing havoc with the health of the people, it has also been causing financial loss to dairy farmers. It is responsibility of the government to act tough against such people, who are involved in this illegal trade and put them behind bars,” he added. Speaking on the cow-cess imposed on electricity bills, Khaira asked the state government to explain what kind of infrastructure it had raised for stray cows.

Terming protests staged by SAD leaders a few days ago as a drama, he added that Akali leaders were reaping what they had sown during their days in power.

Asked about allegations of his relations with drug mafia, he added that the Congress and SAD were two sides of one coin, which had ruled and looted the state term wise term. “Now, AAP has emerged as a major political force in Punjab politics, which is not acceptable to both these parties. So, they have joined hands to level false and baseless allegations against me to just defame me and our party,” he added.