‘NITI BETRAYED FARMERS BY REFUSING TO BAIL OUT STATE’

CHANDIGARH : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday said the Niti Aayog’s flat refusal to bail out Punjab has sent a wrong signal to debt-ridden farmers in the state.

Leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira said the country is selfsufficient in foodgrains due to the tireless efforts of Punjab farmers. “Although more states have begun to contribute foodgrains, it is Punjab that actually filled the food bowl of the country in the need of the hour. The state contributed 60% and 80% of rice and wheat towards the granary of India until a few years ago,” he said in a statement.

Niti Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar, who held a meeting with state officials on Thursday, snubbed the Punjab government asking it to work towards securing the “income” of its farmers instead of seeking funds from the Centre.

The AAP leader blamed the “discriminatory policies” of successive central governments for the colossal debt of ₹1 lakh crore in which the state farmers have landed themselves. “The Niti Ayog member’s statement on food security has revealed hidden agenda that the Modi government intends to disband the current minimum support price (MSP) system for wheat and paddy crops,” he claimed.

Khaira said the insensitive attitude of the (Narendra) Modi government denying farmers a package is not only breach of faith but also amounts to leaving them in the lurch in their hour of crisis.