Modi must announce framework for revival of Punjab: Manpreet

Chandigarh, September 10 : People’s party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal today stressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit here tomorrow must announce his government’s framework including special financial assistance to rescue this state from ever deepening crisis.Manpreet said the framework must not include steps only for the revival of economy but also the agenda to save this state from the increasing menace of drugs. He said while the steps for the revival of economy should include special package, wiping out the drug menace would need dealing strictly with the drug mafia patronised by the Akali Dal and the BJP leaders.In the context of special assistance for Punjab, Manpreet referred to special financial package for Bihar that was announced with political motive of swaying the voters towards the Bharatiya Janata Party in the crucial battle. The former finance minister expressed the view that such assistance should not be influenced by political considerations but the criteria should be need based. Moreover, Punjab was the state that had provided food security to the country but this contribution was getting overlooked.He said the rot was so deep that the farmers were committing suicides but there was no broader plan to come out with suitable farm policy. He reminded the Prime Minister about his promise to implement the Swaminathan Committee report ensuring 50 per cent profits to the cultivators over and above the cost of production. He regretted that the NDA had gone back on this promise. At the same time, he demanded debt waived for farmers and assured marketing for some other crops too to encourage diversification.At the same time, he also pitched for special concessions to encourage industrialisation as the situation was deteriorating every day in the border state in the absence of any relief being provided by the Akali Dal-BJP government to the existing industry.He made it clear that new employment opportunities could not be created without capital investment both in the industrial and the farm sector but the tragedy was that the state government was bankrupt.