Phagwara : Ranjit Singh Khurana, the urban unit head of Shiromani Akali Dal (B), and Rajinder Singh Chandi, the rural in-charge, have called on the state government to settle the outstanding payments owed to sugarcane farmers immediately, reported The Tribune.
In a statement issued by the organisation, the leaders expressed frustration with the government’s approach, accusing it of mistreating farmers by claiming to auction the properties of sugar mill owners instead of addressing the root of the issue.
They highlighted that back in 2015, under then-Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, over Rs 250 crore was transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts. Additionally, a subsidy of Rs 50 per quintal of sugarcane was provided to ease the financial strain on farmers. However, since 2017, farmers have been left in the lurch, they said.
The leaders accused the previous Congress government of making hollow promises, and now claim that the current Mann government is repeating the same mistakes.
Khurana noted that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann frequently states that, unlike previous administrations, he doesn’t claim the state’s treasury is empty, implying that the government has sufficient funds. They urged Mann to demonstrate compassion for the farmers of the Doaba region by swiftly releasing the pending payments from the state treasury.
With the festive season nearing and farmers struggling financially, the Akali Dal leaders stressed that the government must support the farming community during these trying times.
Continue reading Chinimandi.com for more news about the Sugar and Allied Sectors.
