First Link MSP With Price Index Only Then Decontrol Diesel-Sukhbir

Lashes At Anti-Consumer Hit List Drawn Up By PMO

5 Dariya News

Jalandhar 06-Jul-2012

Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab and President Shiromani Akali Dal today rejected the proposed move of Union Government to decontrol the diesel or cap the subsidy immediately after Presidential election and said that Shiromani Akali Dal would not allow decontrol of diesel till Minimum Support Price of agricultural produce was linked with price index as per the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission.Talking to media persons, Badal said that world over agriculture sector was highly subsidized by the Governments and in India Union Government was bent upon squeezing even the last drop of blood of peasantry with series of anti-farmer measures. He said that firstly they have decontrolled the fertilizer sector by nutrient based formula, which has doubled the price of DAP within six months and raise the price of Urea and now they have embarked upon decontrolling the diesel that would adversely affect the dwindling economy of agriculture and road transport sector. Badal said that they have deliberately deferred this decision after Presidential poll to safeguard the votes of their allies including TMC and  new found partners including SP, BSP, JD (U) in the upcoming Presidential elections. Badal said that on one hand Union Government was taking decisions that were raising the price of agriculture inputs by 100% but was raising MSP by only 15% that would further push farmers deeper in the debt trap. He said that Shiromani Akali Dal had been pleading Union Government to implement the report of Swaminathan Commission to link MSP with Price Index but Union Government was dragging its feet on this under the pressure of MNC lobby.  Lashing at Congress led UPA government for anti-consumer hit list including raising the price of LPG, further hiking the price of Urea and other fertilizers, multi-brand FDI and said that by squeezing the middle class no Union Government could ever survive. He said that Congress led UPA government has totally collapsed putting the economy of country in shambles and policy paralysis of this government has brought growth rate down to 5% whereas inflation has already crossed double digit figure.  Questioning the silence of Punjab Congress Party Unit on these crucial issues, Badal said that their deliberate silence was indicative of the fact that they are totally cut off from the masses and they do not know the miseries being inflicted by anti-people policies of Congress led UPA Government.