‘Kurki’ gone, farm debt will also be waived soon: Capt

CHANDIGARH: Promising early waiver of their debt, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday assured farmers that the government would not backtrack on its promise and urged them not to resort to suicide as the high-powered committee set up to work out the waiver modalities was on the job.

Pointing out that his government had already put a stop on “kurki” (auction) of mortgaged land of farmers to fulfil its poll promise, the CM said there was no question of going back on any of the commitments made to the people.

Addressing captains of industry at an interactive session organised here by PHDCCI, the CM lamented that agriculture, despite being of critical importance, was not resulting in economic growth.

The CM cited examples of Japan and Germany to express the optimism that Punjab would also get out of its current mess to become India’s topmost state. Revival of industry, he said, was critical for the restoration of the state’s growth.

Promising his government’s full support in cutting red tape and addressing the woes of industry, the CM said while he could not promise financial support in view of Punjab’s dire straits, he would ensure ease of doing business, backed by affordable power, as promised in the poll manifesto. “We are trying to ascertain the extent of financial mess and would soon bring a white paper on it,” he said.

Amarinder said the new industrial policy was being

drafted and would be implemented without any delay.

The CM agreed that the truck unions, with their monopoly, were a big problem for the industry and assured early resolution. The PHDCCI has demanded a legislation to regulate the operations of such unions, which it said were indulging in massive extortion and intimidation.

Amarinder also promised to look into other issues raised by the industry during the interactive session, including delay in VAT refund, environmental clearances and support in reviving the closed cotton ginning mills in the Malwa belt.