Stubble burning: SAD's Bikram Majithia seeks revocation of red entries in land records of Punjab farmers
Chandigarh, November 17: Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday demanded immediate revocation of red entries made in land records of thousands of farmers. He alleged that farmers resorted to the burning of paddy stubble only after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann failed to compensate them for the cost incurred in managing the stubble.
Claiming that the SAD stood with the beleaguered peasantry, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia announced that the party would oppose collection of penalties imposed on farmers, besides launching a sustained campaign in case red entries in land records were not revoked.
“The AAP-led Punjab Government has created another list akin to the black list of the Central Government which will cause untold hardship to farmers, who will become ineligible for loans and will not be able to mortgage their land. This is discriminatory and a plot to deny them access to various other government benefits also,” Majithia added.
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He blamed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for the current state of affairs. Bikram Majithia said, “Farmers burnt their paddy stubble only after Bhagwant Mann backtracked on his assurance to give them a cash incentive of Rs 2,500 per acre to offset them for the loss incurred in managing it”.
He alleged that after making grandiose announcements and milking cheap publicity, the AAP government did not pay a single rupee to farmers to manage their paddy stubble. “Instead coercive steps, including police action, were taken to force farmers to manage their stubble at their own cost. Those unable to do so due to financial constraints have been penalised and red entries have been made in their land records”.
The SAD leader said the AAP government should have taken on the responsibility of managing paddy straw. "Instead of doing this, farmers had been encouraged to purchase heavy machinery for which even the promised grants have not been released. Moreover, small and marginal farmers cannot purchase these machines that are usable for only a fortnight annually,” Majithia added.
- PTC NEWS
