Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today rejected the proposed move of Congress led Union Government to cut fertilizer subsidy by 15 percent from next fiscal year and said that Shiromani Akali Dal would not allow further cut in fertlizer subsidy till Minimum Support Price of agricultural produce was linked with the price index as per the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission. He also questioned the silence of Punjab Congress on this crucial issue.
Addressing the massive gathering in the favour of SAD-BJP candidate Mr. Joginder Pal Jain at villages Darapur, Chotian Kalan, Chotian Khurd and Budh Singh Wala, the Shiromani Akali Dal President 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, then decontrolled diesel prices and now they were further going to cut fertilizers subsidy by 15 percent which would adversely affect the dwindling economy of agriculture sector.
Demanding minimum of Rs 2,200 per quintal as MSP for wheat in view of rising input cost for farmers, Mr. Badal said that on one hand Congress led UPA government was taking decisions that were raising the price of agriculture inputs by 100 percent and on other hand there was meagre raise in MSP, that would further push farmers deeper in the debt trap. He pointed out that the price of DAP fertilizers has risen from Rs 437 per bag during last season to 1237 per bag this season due to withdrawal of subsidy. He said that Shiromani Akali Dal had been demanding implementation of recommendations of Swaminathan Commission linking MSP of agriculture produce with cost of agriculture inputs but Congress led UPA was trying to protect the interests of multinational companies. He said that after the decontrolling of fertiliser rates, producing companies doubled the rates of DAP within six months.
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 in retail, Mr. Badal said that by squeezing the middle class no 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, Mr. 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.