‘PM failed to address any major concern’

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh expressed disappointment over what he claimed was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “failure to address” any major concern of the farmers at his Malout rally on Wednesday.

He also lashed out at the Akalis for “betraying” the state by allowing Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar to be present on the occasion.

“The distressed farmers who had gathered to hear Modi found no succour for their problems in his long speech, which was high on fluff and short of substance,” said the Punjab chief minister, expressing shock that Modi “failed to even make a mention” of farmer suicide, debts or the Swaminathan Report.

And to rub salt on the farmers’ wounds, the Badals, instead of using the opportunity to fight for Punjab’s rights on the water and SYL issues, shared the dais with Haryana CM Khattar, who was actively working against the interests of our state, Amarinder Singh claimed.

In a statement, the CM said the rally turned out to be a “sorry spectacle” for the farmers, who braved the sweltering heat in the hope of concrete announcements. “Instead, Modi’s speech turned out to be an insipid affair, focused on tom-tomming his government’s four-year rule, which has been a complete failure on all counts,” he said.