Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Breaks security cordon to interact with people in various villages. Gets overwhelming response from youth and women
Dhuri, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today assured farmers who have been hit by a spell of unseasonal rain that the Stategovernment will request the centre to relax wheat procurement conditions in Punjab.
Addressing election rallies in the villages of this constituency amidst rain in favour ofSAD candidate Gobind Singh Longowal, the SAD president said unseasonal rain had not only damaged standing wheat crop at a large number of places, but was also likely to increase moisture content in grains once the crop started arriving in Mandis next week.
Mr Badal said the government would appeal to the centre to prevail upon the FCI to relax its stringent norms whereby grain with a moisture content of above 14 per cent is considered unfit for procurement. He said simultaneously drying facilities would be set up at market yards to facilitate farmers. He said Punjab would also request the centre for a special financial package to compensate farmers for the losses suffered by them.
Meanwhile campaigning in Kakkarwal, Punnawal, Pedhni Kalan, Rajomajra, Bugra, and Ranike besides few other villages along with senior leaders Gulzar Singh Ranike, Sikander Singh Maluka and Jeet Mohinder Sidhu, the SAD president broke away from his security cordon to interact directly with the people. There was huge enthusiasm among the youth with youngsters virtually mobbing Mr Badal to get their photographs, including selfies clicked with him.
Villagers also vented their feelings during these impromptu interactions. At Manuana village Nishu Sherpur thanked the SAD president for renominating Gobind Singh Longowal as the party candidate. He said while this was in accordance with the panthic principles of the SAD, it had also rewarded an honest party worker.
There was also huge enthusiasm among members of the Istri Akali Dal to meet Mr Badal and exchange views with him. Women were seen in large numbers at all the public meetings addressed by the SAD president.
The Deputy chief minister also urged the people to exercise their franchise with care. “On the one hand you have Gobind Longowal who will always remain your sewadar. On the other is a scion of a family which betrayed the cause of Punjab and Punjabis by aligning with the Congress despite getting everything from the SAD”. Urging the people to punish this blatant opportunism on the part of the Barnala family, Mr Badal said theSAD was committed to undoing all the wrongs suffered by Dhuri as it had never been represented by a member from the ruling benches in recent times.
