Assuring that the arhtiya system in the state would not be abolished, Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday promised a delegation of Punjab arhtiyas that the next Congress government would not take any policy decision affecting them without taking a mandate from them and others concerned with the trade.A delegation led by Vijay Kalra, President of the Federation of Arhatiya Association, Punjab, along with Vijay Inder Singla (Ex-MP, Sangrur), met Captain Amarinder Singh at his residence in New Delhi.The delegation apprised the PPCC president of the problems being faced by the trading community (arhatiyas) since the last 10 years in the state under the SAD-BJP regime.Captain Amarinder Singh assured the delegation that the interests of the arhatiya community will be protected after Congress forms the next government in Punjab. He said the relationship between the arhatiyas, the farmers and labourers shall be further strengthened.
The Congress government will not take any decision or formulate any new policy without getting mandate from the arhtiyas and other communities connected with the trade, said Captain Amarinder.The arhtiyas along with the farmers have played a big role in bringing the Green Revolution to the country, helping make itself reliant for its food security, and have been majorly instrumental in promoting micro financing too, said Captain Amarinder.Other members of the delegation included Devi Dyal Goyal, Harbans Singla, Rakesh Singla (Patiala), Amrik Singh Dhillon (Samrala), Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi (Khanna), Rajesh Jain (Maur), Roop Chand (Talwandi Bhai) and Amarjit Singh Brar (Bagha Purana).