Concerned over farmers’ suicides Capt Amarinder tells them to bear with him for 1 yr

CHANDIGARH, November 30: Concerned over the rising number of suicides by the farmers across the state, Punjab Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh today appealed to them to bear with him for one year more, promising a turnaround after Congress forms the government.

“I understand the state of distress and despair you are going through, but I promise you that agriculture will be my first and foremost priority for revival”, he told the farmers in an emotional appeal, adding, “you have seen it happen between 2002 and 2007 and you will see it happening from 2017 onwards”.

“It is almost every day now, when we get to read the tragic stories of suicide by our farmers, just because they are not in a position to repay their debts”, he said, adding, “it is a tragic irony that the same people who saved the country from starvation by giving their blood and sweat to usher in the Green Revolution are now forced to take their own lives”.

The PCC President said, the farmers were faced with the double whammy. “While the agriculture has remained no more profitable, the prices of land have touched the bottom leaving no option for the farmers”, he pointed out, while recalling how during his tenure farmers were getting good returns on their produce and the prices of land had also gone substantially up.

“And I promise you the return of same good old days where choice will be yours whether to make profits from agriculture or by selling off your land”, he said, while reassuring them, “it is matter of just one more year after which the things will fall in place and everything will be alright”.

Capt Amarinder blamed the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, saying he was “callous and insensitive” towards the plight of the farmers. “I am shocked that there is no feeling of regret or remorse on Badal’s face”, he observed, asking, “why should he have any as long as his own coffers keep on overflowing with wealth?”

The former Chief Minister wondered that how Badal, who inherited 80 acres of land from his father, could turn into a multi-billionaire in a span of 50 years, while other farmers across the state were driven to distress and despair and a number of them were committing suicide.