Aam Aadmi Party has planned to hold statewide protests on November 7 against the government apathy towards farmers of the state. In a press statement, AAP state convener, Gurpreet Singh Waraich said there is a lack of adequate lifting arrangement in grain mandis and Punjab government is harassing the farmers by delaying payment of paddy. Waraich said that the embezzlement of 12000 crores fund by Badal government meant for famers led to the financial crunch in state. He said that due this food scam banks led by State Bank of India stopped lending money to Punjab for further procurement. Waraich said that it was shocking to hear that foodgrains worth Rs. 20,000 crore procured by the Punjab Government had gone missing from godowns in the state.
Waraich said that AAP teams led by Farmers wing and volunteers are visiting the mandis everyday and it has come out that government agencies are demanding bribe of RS 100 per quintal from every famer. He lambasted Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal for his statement that agriculture is not a profitable occupation in Punjab now. “It is such an demoralizing statement from the chief minister of statement. You head the government in state and SAD is a partner in central government, why don’t you ask Modi ji to announce special package to save peasantry in state?” asked Waraich.Waraich also criticized congress chief, Captain Amrinder Singh for making fool of farmers of the state by making hollow promises. “Before Modi came to power at centre, Congress ruled country for 10 years but during that period of time Capt. could not manage to bring a single penny for the farmers of Punjab. What is the use of filling fake forms of farm debt waiver now?” Waraich asked.