Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh today stressed the need for a strong and effective law against dispossessing the debt-ridden farmers from their land.
He sought all party consensus on the matter so that the farmers are not forced to take the extreme and desperate steps like suicides.
"Without wasting any time in politicking over the issue let us move fast to enact the law to save the land and the lives of our farmers", Amarinder said in an appeal to all the political parties.
At the same time, he said, the state government will have to provide guarantee so that the arthiyas (the commission agents) also do not suffer any financial losses.
"It is very much possible and practicable and it only needs a sincere and strong will on part of the government", he remarked.
Expressing grief over the suicide by a farmer and his mother in Jodhpur village in Barnala district after he saw police coming to dispossess him of his land following the court orders, Amarinder said, a strong law, which he has already proposed is the only solution.
The former Chief Minister claimed he had mooted the legislation during his previous term in 2006.
However, since Congress lost power, the Akalis did not follow it up during the last nine years for the reasons best know to them, he said.
But, he regretted, that the Akalis either "scrapped" all
the projects or "discouraged" the investors to the extent of even seeking their share in the pie.
"That is why I have been insisting and emphasising that all the political parties in Punjab should make a commitment that the industry friendly policies will be continued no matter which party forms the government", he said, adding, investment is a long drawn process and needs government cooperation at every level.
Referring to the alleged open loot of the riverbeds, he alleged, the sand mafia was robbing the state, by Rs 5 crore per day.
Capt Amarinder also promised to set up the Sixth Pay Commission in Punjab with time bound mandate whose recommendations will be implemented in a time bound manner.
He said, the DA instalments will be released on time and the benefits will be extended to the pensioners also.
The former Chief Minister rejected the meagre reduction of 38 paise per unit in power tariff for the industrial sector, saying it was just inconsequential and a big joke on the industry.
He asked as how can industry come to Punjab while it was getting round the clock power in states like Chhattisgarh and that too at half the price only.
Capt Amarinder also announced that the collection of toll on various roads needs to be examined, reviewed and rationalised.
He said, this was a general demand from across Punjab and once Congress forms the government, a high powered committee will be set up to sort out the issue within three months.
