Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh today asked if the Centre can "write off the bad debts of corporates worth Rs 1.14 lakh crore", why can't it take similar step for farmers.
Amarinder was referring to the "reported move of the government of India to write off the bad debts to the tune of Rs 1.14 lakh crore owed by corporates across the country".
He asked why can't similar relief be provided to farmers "whose loans are far less and who are not wilful defaulters either."
The Amritsar MP said he wondered why Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was not taking up the case with his "friendly government" at the Centre in which his daughter-in-law (Harsimrat Kaur) was a minister.
He was interacting with the farmers during a programme here.
The former Chief Minister pointed out how farmers were resorting to suicides for their inability to repay their loans which in most of the cases are just about a few lakhs of rupees only.
He asked Badal "to pursue the case with the central government and not just be satisfied with his daughter in law Harsimrat Kaur being a minister."
Amarinder said that during his previous tenure as Chief Minister between 2002 and 2007 he had ensured that no farmers' land was attached by banks for not being able to repay their loans.
He said similar measures will be taken after if Cong comes to power in Punjab also and no farmers land will be allowed to be auctioned over repayment defaults.
He also pitched for voting rights of the Sehajdhari Sikhs, saying anybody born to the Sikh parents and observing Sikh faith must have the voting rights in SGPC elections.
Amarinder, meanwhile, cautioned people, especially the youth, against being "misled" by the Aam Aadmi Party which was trying to sell "false dreams to them."
"If you want to see what AAP is up to and capable of just go to Delhi," he said.
He stressed that Punjab needed an experienced and competent government so that the state is retrieved "from the financial mess the Badals have pushed it into during the last ten years".
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During 'Halke Vich Captain' event, visually impaired children and members of the 'Sant Narayan Dass Blind and Handicapped Society' from Hoshiarpur met Amarinder and spoke about their grievances, a Congress spokesperson said.
The problems they discussed with the state Congress chief included difficulty in finding jobs for the educated blind youth, and expenditure on higher education of these children due to the lack of fixed source of income, he said.
Amarinder promised all help and ensured arrangements for their education and jobs when his party comes to power in the state following Assembly election next year.
