Union Minister and Punjab BJP president Vijay Sampla today said that the policies of the previous Congress governments are responsible for the pathetic condition of farmers. Addressing a press conference during the second day of the Vijay Sankalp Rath Yatra in Abohar, Sampla said that the Beant Singh government in 1992 had misled the farmers by falsely claiming to waive off their debts. He said, “On one hand Capt. Amarinder Singh is claiming that he himself will waive off the debts, but on the other hand he and the whole Congress leadership is requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to relinquish farmers’ debts”. Sampla said that the Modi government had allotted the largest sum ever for the agri-sector and rural devolpment , the BJP’s prime objective was to look for a permanent solution to the agricultural crisis.In the 2016-17 Union Budget PM Sh Narendra Modi allotted Rs. 35984 crores allotted for agriculture sector, Rs. 17000 crores for irrigation projects, Two new Organic farming scheme for 5 lakh acres, Rs. 19000 crores for Gram Sadak Yojana, Rs. 9 Lakh Crores Agriculture Credit Target and Rs. 38500 crores for MANREGA, which is also highest ever. Sampla said, “The Congress regime was full of scams while the Modi government is coming up with numerous welfare schemes now and then.
During the past two-and-a-half years of the Modi government, more than 90 schemes have been introduced for farmers, women, poor, labourers, backward classes and industries which have changed their lives. Earlier our leaders dreamt of transforming India into America but it is for the first time that taking inspiration from PM Modi’s policies American president-elect Donald Trump has stated that he will work like him”.Taking on AAP, Sampla said, “AAP promised CCTVs for women security, schools, colleges, free wi-fi etc., but failed to keep its promises. Drugs are openly used during Rave parties in Delhi but nothing like this happens in Punjab. Still, Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi are defaming Punjab’s youth by terming them addicts. It’s hard to understand that how are those leaders seeking votes from Punjabis who have been accused of selling tickets, corruption, sexual exploitation by their very own party workers”.Listing out the achievements of the state government, Sampla said, “With the help of the Centre government, the Akail-BJP coalition government has constructed four-lane roads across the state with a budget of Rs. 30,000 crores. AIIMS and IIMs are being set up. New airports have been built in Mohali and Bathinda and another one is coming up in Aadampur. The public is appreciating the coalition for carrying out such developmental works and hence only the Akali-BJP combine has the right to seek votes from them”.
Meanwhile, on its second day, the Vijay Sankalp Rath Yatra was given a grand welcome in different parts of Abohar. After seeking blessing at the Balaji temple in the city, the Yatra marched ahead and stopped at various ‘chowks’ where state party chief Vijay Sampla, state organizational general secretary Dinesh Kumar, Cabinet Minister Surjeet Kumar Jiyani and former state party chief Brij Lal Rinwa paid tributes at Shaheed Bhagat Singh memorial and garlanded the statutes to Bhagat Kabir Ji and Maharaj Agrasen Ji. The leaders aboard the Rath were showered upon by flowers by thousands of party workers and supporters as the cavalcade of workers riding motorcyclists and cars marched ahead raising slogans. The leaders addressed public gatherings at Thakur Abadi, Gandhi Chowk and Circular Road.State party vice-president Archna Dutt, general secretaries Manjit Singh Rai and Kewal Kumar, secretary Vineet Joshi, Fazilka district president Vishnu Bhagwan Delu, BJYM state president Shivbir Rajan and general secretary Amit Sampla were also present during the Yatra.