Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that he would soon meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek his personal intervention for ensuring remunerative MSP to the farmers’ for their produce.Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of a function to pay tribute to former Head of Damdami Taksal Sant Kartar Singh Bhindrawale here today, the Chief Minister bemoaned that due to escalating cost of farming inputs and the excessive centralization of policies by the Union government, agriculture was no longer a profitable venture. He said that the net result of such regressive policies of the successive Union governments was that the hard working and resilient farmers of the country who had played a key role in ensuring food security in India were on the verge of economic disaster. Mr. Badal categorically said that the ongoing agrarian crisis in the country could jeopardize the food security of the nation if timely action was not taken by the Union government.
Therefore, the Chief Minister said that he would soon meet the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and urge him to take immediate steps for evolving a mechanism so that the farmers of the country could be provided remunerative MSP. He said that this important issue was a part of BJP’s manifesto for the recently concluded general elections, so it was imperative for the NDA government to take necessary action in this regard. “I am confident that a visionary and dynamic leader like Mr. Modi will take the necessary action for ensuring the welfare of the food growers of the country” added Mr. Badal.When asked about the spectacular victory of the BJP in recent concluded assembly elections of Haryana and Maharashtra, the Chief Minister said that he was the happiest person due to the marvelous performance of their alliance partner.
Earlier paying floral tributes to Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale, the Chief Minister recalled the services rendered by him for the preaching the tenets of Sikhism amongst the masses. Mr. Badal said that the commitment and dedication of Sant Ji for disseminating Sikhism amongst the people would be ever remembered by one and all. Describing him as a true champion of human rights, he said that throughout his life Sant Kartar Singh followed the footsteps of Sikh Gurus for opposing the tyranny, oppression and injustice for upholding the values human rights.The Chief Minister further said that Sant Kartar Singh Ji was a true votary of democracy and a testimony to which was the vehement struggle launched by him against the Emergency imposed by the Government of India (GoI) in 1975. He recalled that after the imposition of Emergency the then Union government had issued gag orders to disallow more than five persons to assemble at a single point but at that time Sant Ji had led numerous processions to defy this unethical encroachment on the fundamental rights of the people.
Badal said that as a result of such untiring efforts by Sant Ji democracy was restored in the country.Reiterating the firm commitment of SAD-BJP alliance government to ensure overall development of the state, the Chief Minister said that due to the stupendous efforts of the state government, Punjab has today emerged as a frontrunner state of the country. Mr. Badal further said that Punjab being a welfare state was providing free power to its farmers at a cost of Rs 6000 crore, so as to bail them out from the agrarian crisis. Likewise, he said that thrust was also being given for ensuring the well being of the weaker sections of the society, for which free Atta-Dal was being given to them.Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Chief Parliamentary Secretary Prof. Virsa Singh Valtoha, former Chairman PEDA Bhai Manjit Singh, SGPC Member Jathedar Bawa Singh Ghumanpura, youth Akali leader Mr. Gaurav Singh Valtoha besides senior officers of the Police and civil administration.