Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) president and former Deputy CM of Punjab Sukhbir Badal yesterday urged Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to direct Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to waive off all farm loans immediately in the State.
In a statement issued from Chandigarh, Sukhbir Badal said it was Capt Amarinder Singh’s bounden duty to deliver on his promise to waive off farm loans but in case implementation of this promise was delayed as was the case Rahul Gandhi should step in and provide immediate reprieve to the Punjabi farmers.
Sukhbir Badal showered praise on his father Parkash Singh Badal saying that senior Badal had implemented his promise to provide free power to farmers after taking over as CM of Punjab back in 1997. He said that like newly formed BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, Congress government in Punjab should waive loans of farmers.
Sukhbir Badal and Parkash Singh Badal [File Photo]
Notably, Sukhbir Badal and his party were criticising Congress party and Capt. Amarinder during their election campaign few months back for making bogus promises to the people of Punjab saying that farm loan waivers was not a feasible idea.
In his statement issued yesterday Sukhbir Badal further said Rahul had even more reason to intervene in case of Punjab as the State Congress had promised to implement a one time complete farm loan waiver scheme in its election manifesto. He said this manifesto was vetted by Rahul who gave it his stamp of approval. “In such circumstances Rahul is morally bound to get this solemn promise implemented”, he added.