Khaira hits out at Capt govt, says farmers feel betrayed

NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly and AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Sunday termed the about one-year rule of the Capt Amarinder Singh government as flop and said the Chief Minister has left people in the lurch by backtracking on his poll promises.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira, leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly, interacting with mediapersons at Punjab Bhawan in New Delhi on Sunday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui

Ravi S. Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 25

Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly and AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Sunday termed the about one-year rule of the Capt Amarinder Singh government as flop and said the Chief Minister has left people in the lurch by backtracking on his poll promises.

Talking to mediapersons here, Khaira said Capt Amarinder got huge electoral mandate for his promise to waive of all kinds of loans of farmers and farm labourers who are in distress on account of debts.

After supporting Congress, led by Capt Amarinder Singh, the farming community feels betrayed and lost all hope of him, Khaira said.

The government has waived loans amounting to Rs 170 crore only, which is less than even 1 per cent the total debt amount, he said.

"As many as 350 farmers have committed suicide since Capt Amarinder Singh took charge for his second innings as Chief Minister. This is because the high hopes raised during elections, have been belied as a result of which they are now disillusioned," Khaira said.

The government has failed on delivering on its promise of creating job opportunities and eradication of drug menace in the state, Khaira said. "Not a single government job has been created. Drugs are easily available in the state," he claimed, adding on the contrary, the available jobs are being done away with.

He cited, among others, closure of two thermal power plants, including one at Bhatinda, laying off about 2,000 employees in the process.

Khaira said law and order situation was at low point, with criminals having no fear of the police.

Referring to the proposed two-day international art and cultural razzmatazz at Quila Mubarak fort at Patiala to be organised under the rubric 'Punjab Panorama' with the help of the state, Khaira said the governments priorities are wrong.

"The government should focus on building academic and medical institutions like schools and hospitals. The Congress government is following in the footsteps of the preceding SAD-BJP government which built 10 museums worth Rs 10,000 crore during the 10-year of its regime," he added.