Badal, Khattar await sops for farmers

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10

Days after he met the Prime Minister in Delhi seeking a bigger support window for Punjab’s distressed farmers, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will get another chance to press home the demand following a fresh round of criticism over state’s inability to do much for the cotton growers battling crop destruction in pest attacks.

His Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar is also looking for some sops for his state. Modi will be in the city on Friday to inaugurate the international airport, preside over a convocation function at the PGI and address a political rally during his four-hour visit starting 9.30 am.

Farmers of both states have been facing a major crisis following attack of whitefly in the cotton belt. Sentiment is low in the farm sector and reports of cases of suicide in the sector continue to pour in from the countryside.

The two states are also grappling with unemployment, declining water table and faltering economy. 

Badal has been under attack from the Opposition for his inability to get any major project for the state from the Modi government during its 16-month stint at the Centre.