Cong lashes out at Harsimrat on bonus issue

Loss in Wheat Production
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 20
Senior Punjab Congress leaders today took on Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who has demanded bonus for loss in wheat production in Punjab from the Centre, claiming that the state government was responsible for the same and that it should offer compensation on its own to farmers. Bathinda MP Harsimrat had, in a statement yesterday, urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to give a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal to offset the loss suffered by farmers.
Former state Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, in a statement released on his behalf by his aide Karanpal Singh Sekhon, said wheat production had fallen due to the SAD-BJP government’s failure in giving water for tube wells as well as lack of canal water during February-March.
Amarinder said though he was sure the PM would concede the demand of the Bathinda MP as he was sympathetic to the Punjab farmers, the SAD-BJP combine should compensate the farmer for the 23 per cent loss in production.

Meanwhile Barnala legislator Kewal Dhillon urged that the government should institute a Vidhan Sabha committee to ensure that Rs 800 crore sanctioned by the Centre following drought-like conditions last year during the paddy season be distributed to farmers. Dhillon said the Congress had every apprehension that the funds might be diverted for other purposes due to the poor fiscal health of the state. The Barnala legislator said farmers were suffering even now as they were not getting more than one hour of power. “The government wants farmers to take up dairy farming and horticulture but is not releasing any power to maintain fodder and vegetable fields,” he added. He also demanded that the state government should admit responsibility for failing the farmers of the state by not supplying adequate power during the wheat season.