Mockery of poll promise, says Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 3

Terming the proposed farm debt waiver as bogus, Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khaira today said the Congress government had failed to ameliorate the lot of farmers.

Khaira said, “The total quantum of the waiver is Rs 7.5 crore, which is merely 6 to 7 per cent of the total debt burden of the farmers of the state. Only a small number of farmers can be included under the waiver, as opposed to the promises made in the Congress manifesto earlier. The government is only pardoning debts worth Rs 2 lakh of farmers with land holdings between 2.5 to 5 acres. It is a mockery of the manifesto promise previously made by the Congress government. We highly condemn the waiver.”

Khaira said 310 farmers had committed suicide in the state ever since the Congress government took charge.

On AAP picking two lesser-known candidates over leaders such as Kumar Vishwas and Ashutosh for nomination to Rajya Sabha seats, Khaira said, “I am not aware of the nomination criterion. As far as the choice of Sanjay Singh is concerned, he has been active in the party nationally.”