Centre’s indifferent attitude behind farmers’ plight: Mann

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann used the Republic Day event to appeal to the Centre to “accept the demands of the state’s farmers” as Punjab has been discriminated by the successive governments.

Addressing the gathering after unfurling the national flag at Polo Ground in Patiala, the Chief Minister said, “Despite limited natural resources, the state’s farmers have put their sweat and toil to make the country self-reliant in food production.”

“Lakhs of Punjabis lost their lives and were rendered homeless during the Partition,” said Mann, adding that Punjab had suffered a lot due to regressive policies of the Centre in the past seven decades.

“It is unfortunate that the farmers have been forced to agitate on the R-Day as well. Due to indifferent attitude of the Centre, the hands that feed the country have to resort to hunger strike to get their demands fulfilled,” he said.

Mann said the tractor, which is king of the fields, has to ply on the road towards Delhi instead of producing food grain “due to the callous attitude of the Centre”. “The Centre should accept the demands of the food growers so that they can serve the country. The plight of farmers, due to the cold shoulder of the Centre, hurts every Indian, who believes in the Constitution. I appeal to the Centre to stop the step-motherly treatment towards Punjab and its hard working people,” stated Mann.

He said the Centre had not released the state’s pending share of Rural Development Fund (RDF) to the tune of Rs 5,500 crore.

Mann pointed out that maintaining hard earned peace was the priority of his government. “We have decided to recruit 1,800 Constables and 300 Sub- Inspectors every year. Around 2.50 lakh youngsters are expected to apply for these posts. Further 10,000 new cops will be recruited for which the notification has already been issued,” he said.

The CM also listed several citizen-centric initiatives like “Bhagwant Mann Sarkar Tuhade Dwar” in addition to attracting investment worth Rs 85,000 crore with proposed employment to 3.50 lakh youths.

“We have regularised services of 12,710 teachers by overcoming all legal and administrative hiccups. So far, 18 toll plazas have been closed in the state,” he said.

Mann also felicitated government officials and participants during the Republic Day celebrations for their contribution towards society and the state.