Sr. Vice-president JKPCC and former Minister Congress Sham Lal Sharma today accused the BJP PDP government in the state of adopting "anti-farmer" policies which led to their woes. Speaking on "Kissan Samelan" at Jatwal, Kathua Sham said that the present Centre and State Govt. Promised farmers that the support price of their yields will be increased by 50% and the same is also incorporated in their election Manifesto.The Program was organized by Dewan Khajuria Chairman Kissan cell Kathua in the presence of G. L. Chalotra Ex MLA, Pankaj Dogra PCC Secretary (working President Kathua), Sarpanch's Jagat Ram, Balak Nath, Vinay Sharma, Rakesh Kumar.Sham said that the BJP government has come to power and more than two years have elapsed but they didn't fulfill their promises.He said that the farmers are facing great hardships due to cost escalations and vagries of the weather. As a result the farmers are committing suicide due to unwarranted hardships."Despite the announcement made by the State Govt of waiver on 50% Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans, in the Budget Session last year, the department has, however, so far given no such waiver,” he added.He said that the State Govt had last year said that to provide immediate relief to the farming community, the Government had announced waiver of 50% KCC loans in case of small and vulnerable farmers in view of the crop loss suffered by them due to floods.
However, the officials in the Department said that no such benefit has been provided to the farmers so far."Even if people tell me to speak lies in politics, I can't do it. It is not in me I may have suffered for speaking what I feel, I don't make false promises. But I can see, slowly people of Jammu are realizing that this country cannot move forward on false promises, not by hollowness, but blood and sweat," he said.He said farmers were feeling depressed and insecure and living a miserable life due to very high rates of fertilizers and seeds. “They are getting a meager return of their produce and there is no mechanism on the part of government to procure the produce of the farmers,”Sham alleged that two years have passed there is drought across India and Kandi areas of Jammu, farmers are committing suicide, killing themselves and BJP is celebrating two years, functions has been organised, people from Bollywood have come, songs and dance have been arranged.Taking dig at BJP Sham said that while campaigning both for Parliament and Assembly elections BJP befooled people of Jammu by making huge promises like giving 15 lacs to each member, settlement of various issues of border population and Refugees, but none of these promises were fulfilled.He further said that during election campaign the BJP promised Border population that plots will be allotted to them in safer zone. But now the NDA Govt. Has backed out from his assurance."All the promises made by BJP were proved false and people are now repenting for voting the BJP," he added.He also said that BJP leaders has no sense of responsibility and Respect towards the needs and sentiments of people of Jammu. (KNS)