Punjab Congress President Partap Singh Bajwa today sought immediate intervention of Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki in the release of arrears of Rs 700 crore to sugarcane growers in the state.
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor this evening, Bajwa said farmers in the state were passing through a grave financial crisis and hundreds of them had allegedly committed suicide due to this extreme distress.
"The main cause of the tragedy is the unforeseen weather coupled with completely insensitive attitude of the Punjab and the Union governments," he alleged.
"To add to the miseries of the farmers, it is shocking that sugarcane payment amounting to Rs 700 crore is yet to be released by sugar mills in the state. Out of this, about Rs 300 crore was outstanding towards cooperative mills," the Congress leader claimed.
He alleged that the non-release of arrears had virtually broken the back of the farmers and added that even the Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken a very serious view of it.
He requested the Governor to direct the state government for immediate release of the entire outstanding amount.
The delegation included MLA and AICC Secretary Kuljit Singh Nagra, MLAs Charanjit Singh Channi, Gurcharan Singh Bhoparai and ex-MLA Darshan Singh Brar among others.
