Cong MLA to propose farm debt waiver Bill

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 7

Congress MLA from Dera Baba Nanak Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has submitted a Private Member’s Bill demanding debt waiver for farmers for consideration during the monsoon session of the Vidhan Sabha that begins tomorrow.

The Bill submitted with the Speaker has been titled “Punjab Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Bill, 2016”.

Randhawa said: “As the government is still working on a proposal to waive interest on crop loans extended to farmers by state cooperative banks, we will move the Bill to expose the intentions of the ruling alliance.”

With elections round the corner, the Congress as part of its multi-pronged strategy has decided to rake up the issue of farmers’ plight in a big way. The party thus proposes to provide for the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive state policy for ensuring debt waiver for farmers.

Will move privilege motion against govt: Jakhar

Senior party leader Sunil Jakhar said they would move a privilege motion against the government for “making false promises” during the budget session. He said the government had promised to provide basic amenities in 100 cities in three months and creating a special fund for the SC post-matric scholarship scheme, but did nothing.

Leader of Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi has already written to the Speaker, seeking time for discussion on issues such as law and order, drugs, farmers’ debt and suicides and financial instability. Meanwhile, Channi has written a letter to the Speaker to include more names in the list of obituaries scheduled for tomorrow.