 "AAP releases 'Kisan Manifesto'")
The Aam Aadmi Party, eyeing to wrest power in Punjab in the 2107 assembly polls, on Sunday unveiled its 31-point 'Kisan Manifesto' with an action plan to prevent farmer and farm labourers suicides and make them debt-free and prosperous by December 2018.
The manifesto was released by Manifesto Committee Chairman Kanwar Sandhu at a party rally at Baghapurana which was later addressed by AAP national convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Sandhu said that the party will re-enact Sir Chhotu Ram Act of 1934 (Moneylenders' Debt) in which under no circumstances will the sum of interest payable exceed the principal amount.
"All debts where a farmer has paid a sum twice the amount of the principal shall be deemed to be wholly discharged," he said addressing the gathering on the occasion.
Every property mortgaged by a debtor whose debt is deemed to be discharged shall stand released, Sandhu said adding that no indebted farmer shall be dispossessed of his land holdings and house.
He said that loans of poor farmers and farm labourers will be waived off and loans of SCs and BCs will also be waived off.
"Interest on loans of other farmers will be waived off.
Punjab farmers to be debt free by December 2018," he said.
No coercive recovery proceedings against farmers will be launched till December 2018 when they will be debt free, Sandhu said.
To make up crop loss, compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for crop loss due to drought, floods, pest attack, unseasonal rain, will be given, he said.
In the event of crop failure, farm labourers shall be given a compensation of Rs 10,000 for every month of loss of work, the AAP leader said.
Full implementation of Swaminathan Commission Report on crop pricing will be done by December 2020.
He said that re-registration of land acquired for the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal by Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal governments earlier, will be done in the name of original owners.
It will be ensured that farmers get 12-hours of free electricity for farming, he said quoting the Manifesto.
Shagan of Rs 51,000 within one week of wedding of the daughter of a farmer or farm labour will be given besides Shagan deposit of Rs 21,000 in a bank account in the name of a newly born daughter born to a farmer or farm labour will be made.
