SAD demands financial package for paddy farmers and reduction in VAT on diesel
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday held protests before PSPCL offices across the State to highlight the plight of farmers, domestic consumers, and the industry who are suffering because the Congress government deliberately withheld eight hours of free supply to farmers besides imposing unscheduled power cuts in urban areas and ordering twice a week closure of industries.
The SAD demanded an immediate financial package for paddy farmers who were forced to use diesel generators besides demanding an immediate reduction in VAT on diesel by the Congress government.
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It said if these corrective measures were not taken along with restoration of regular supply of power to farmers as well as the domestic and industrial consumers the party would ‘gherao’ the chief minister and ministers in the next phase of its agitation.
Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal joined the protests at Lambi, Fazilka, and Ghubaya during the course of which he held chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh solely responsible for the plight of the people.
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He said the chief minister had not taken a single review meeting of the power utility to ensure adequate supply of power to paddy farmers. He also asserted that this was done deliberately to keep the subsidy bill down.
Standing amongst parched paddy fields in Fazilka, Sukhbir Badal said the government did not make any attempt to ensure timely maintenance of thermal plants which had led to the closure of the Lehra Mohabbat plant as well as closedown of one unit of the Talwandi Sabo plant.
He said in stark contrast during SAD government tenure farmers had always received eight hours uninterrupted power supply besides 24 hour supply to the domestic and industrial sectors.
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia disclosed how a fresh burden of Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 3,500 crore had been put on farmers who were forced to use diesel generators and that the government had earned from their misery due to increased rates of VAT on diesel.
In Ropar, farmers held a unique “Muft Pakhi Sewa” protest by distributing ‘pakhis’ to citizens under the leadership of former minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema.
Amidst slogans of “bijli sankat hal karo, hal karo”, Dr Cheema said people were forced to go back to using ‘pakhis’ with even urban areas facing cuts of as many as eight to ten hours.
-PTC News
