Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Bajwa to meet Congress Vice President Tomorrow in Delhi
Chandigarh, August 19: The Punjab Congress President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa today announced that the party would organize dharnas against the decision of sugar mills not to start crushing of sugarcane this season beginning August 25 from Phagwara followed by at Mukerian on August 28. He would meet the party vice-president Mr Rahul Gandhi tomorrow to apprise him about the detailed party programme to mobilise the masses.
Addressing a news conference here, Mr Bajwa said the area under sugarcane in the state was more than one lakh acres and this sudden decision of the sugar mills not to start crushing citing higher cane price fixed by the state government had come as a bolt from the blue that would adversely affect the farm economy that might lead to increasing incidence of suicides by the farmers.
He said he was fully aware of the economy of the sugar mills as no industry could run in losses but in this case, the ultra-rich sugar barons had moral and social responsibilities too towards the state and the farmers from which they could not run away.
He said it was ironic that while on one hand the Badal government was motivating the farmers to shun the current wheat-paddy cycle and diversify to other crops such as sugarcane, potatoes, vegetables, maize, pulses etc., it was acting like a mute spectator on the other and not coming to the rescue of farmers. He said the state government must intervene to clear the arrears amounting to Rs 682 crore to enable the mills to start crushing.
The PPCC chief referred to the growing influence of the sugar mill lobby which was in a position to dictate terms even at the national level as exemplified by the hike in import duty on sugar from 15 to 40 per cent by the Narendra Modi government. Similarly, the government had extended interest free loan of Rs 6000 crore to the sugar mills to tide over the crisis.
He strongly lambasted the conspiracy of silence maintained by the Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal who otherwise claimed himself to be the sole champion of farmer rights. He asked was it due to the benami shares held by his son and Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal in the Wahad-Sandhar sugar mill of Phagwara? He must clarify the stoic silence over gross exploitation of aggrieved farmers. It is also saddening to note, that the BKU the representative organization is also maintaining a studied silence over this burning issue.
Announcing the programme of the party conferences followed by his padyatra, Mr
Bajwa said the party would organize political conference on August 29 at Baba Bakala on Rakhar Punia following by the launching of Dr B R Ambedkar birth anniversary celebrations on August 30 at Ludhiana. Then rally at Sangrur on September 1, Gurdaspur on September 5, Baghapurana on September 9, Khadoor Sahib Gurta Gadhi Diwas on September 18, Patiala onSeptember 26 and Chhapar Mela on September 29. This would be followed by six month long padyatra in phases beginning October 2.
Replying to a question about the allegations and counter-allegations being leveled by some party leaders against each other, Mr Bajwa appealed to them to desist from such activities which had the potential to harm the party.
On the leadership issue, he said, “I am a foot soldier of the party and I always abide by the decision of the party high command”.
He called upon the entire party leadership to participate in these dharnas that would be staged at other places too.
