Expressing deep concern over the crop loss of farmer due to the frequently changing weather conditions, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the Union government must introduce ‘Crop Insurance Scheme’ for safeguarding the interests of farmers. Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of first day of his thanks giving tour in Dhuri assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that the inclement weather conditions have broken the backbone of the farmers by damaging their ‘Golden harvest’. He said that in such a dismal scenario the only ray of hope for the farmers was the crop insurance scheme so that they could be duly compensated for their whopping loss. “The vagaries of weather are proving detrimental for the farmers so the Government of India (GoI) must introduce a crop insurance scheme for bailing them from the agrarian crisis” added Mr. Badal.
Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that it was unfortunate that several state government owned corporations including Punjab Roadways and PRTC were running in loss. However, he said that the state government was trying to bring these loss making propositions back on track. Severely condemning the incident of manhandling of an on duty Assistant Public Relation Officer (APRO) in Bathinda a few days back, the Chief Minister termed it as highly unfortunate. He further said that the law would take its own course to punish the accused in this case. Addressing the gatherings in village Dhadogal, Jainpur and Issra on the maiden day of his thanks giving tour, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude towards the people for reposing faith in the pro-people and development oriented policies of the state government. He said that this victory has filled them with more responsibility to serve the people of the state with utmost zeal, dedication and commitment. Mr. Badal said that the state government would leave no stone unturned for ensuring the overall development of Punjab in general and Dhuri assembly segment in particular.
The Chief Minister further said that though due to unseasonal rain and hailstorm there were some hiccups in smooth procurement of the wheat crop but the pro-farmers SAD-BJP alliance government has ensured that the farmer of the state get paid for his every grain. He said that while some other political parties had just done great deal of lip service on the issue, the alliance government has taken up the matter with NDA government at centre to make sure that the farmers do not have to suffer in grain markets. “We are with the farmers from the core of our heart and will take every step for safeguarding their interests” added Mr. Badal.
Making a scathing attack on the Congress, the Chief Minister said that the countrymen were facing a lot of social maladies just because of misrule of the Congress for more than 60 years. He said that the farmers of the country were reeling under huge debt due to the regressive and anti-farmer policies of the Congress. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that the Congress misled the poor and weaker sections of the society by showing them ‘green pastures’ but the fact was that not even a single scheme was initiated for their well being during the Congress regime. The Chief Minister was accompanied by former Union Minister Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Cabinet Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, MLAs Mr. Gobind Singh Longowal and Mr. Iqbal Singh Jhunda, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Arshdeep Singh Thind.