Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, October 16, 2017
The MLAs and other office bearers of Aam Aadmi Party on Mondaysubmitted memorandums to the concerned Deputy Commissioners throughout state against undue harassment of farmers by the state government in the name of stubble burning.
In a joint statement, Aam Aadmi Party state president Bhagwant Mann, co-president Aman Arora and leader of opposition in Vidhan Sabha Sukhpal Singh Khaira said that the government before registering cases against farmers, the government must fulfill its own duty as directed by the National Green Tribunal. The leaders said that the government itself has failed to perform its duty and now forcing farmers to save it own skin.
“As per the orders of NGT, the para 14 clause ‘C’ clearly states that harvesting, transportation and proper utilization of the crop residue is the primary responsibility of state government. In case, the Govt. is not able to do so then it has to pay the compensation to the farmers as per the land holding. The clause ‘H’ of the same order says that the state will provide Machines, Mechanism and equipments to the farmers for the purpose of destroying agricultural residue.” the leaders said. They demanded proper arrangements to remove paddy stubble from the fields of farmers or give them sufficient financial help as per the directions of National Green Tribunal and immediately stop punitive action against farmers for burning stubble in fields.
In the memorandum, AAP leaders demanded that the Capt Govt. should comply with the directions of NGT in on its part and provide top priority to remove the paddy stubble from the fields to save the environment. They strongly criticized the Govt for failing to take any concrete step in time and now when farmers are left with no option other than burning stubble in fields, Govt machinery was unnecessarily harassing them by issuing notices of punitive action. AAP leaders said that the farmers of state were already disappointed from the backtracking of Capt. Govt from the promise of complete loan waiver promise made during elections and now the Govt had been bent upon to punish without any fault.
AAP leaders said that AAP is concerned about the depleting environment condition due to toxics caused by smoke but it should not be an excuse to harass the already indebted farmers of the state. They said that the farmers are already committing suicides in state and the number of suicides is increasing day by day. So the Govt. must focus on providing relief to the farmers rather than accusing them for its own failure. The leaders warned that in case the Govt continued action against farmers for burning paddy stubble, AAP leaders will stand by farmers.
