Now, Capt questions Khattar on pro-farmer initiatives
CHANDIGARH: In a sharp response to his Haryana counterpart’s tweets questioning him on farmer welfare measures, Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said Manohar Lal Khattar’s claims were nothing but a shoddy defence against the nation-wide criticism of the ‘shameful treatment’ meted out to farmers by the BJP government.
“Instead of apologising for the unprovoked attack on farmers in Karnal, Khattar had been brazenly defending the police action,” said Amarinder in a statement. Rebutting Haryana chief minister’s assertions that his government had done more
for the farmers than the Punjab government, Amarinder said: “If that is the case, then why are farmers of your own state are angry with you and your party?”
Claiming that Haryana does not give a single paisa to its farmers in power subsidy, Amarinder said: “In Punjab, power subsidy of Rs 7,200 crore is being provided every year for agriculture pump-sets of farmers.”
Not only was Punjab leading the country in terms of procurement of key crops like wheat, paddy and cotton at MSP, it was also providing additional assistance to farmers to ensure smooth procurement in the face of the faulty policies of the Bjpled central government, he said.
What Khattar had said
In a series of tweets on Monday, Khattar had listed several steps taken by Haryana for farmers, and asked what Amarinder Singh’s government has done in comparison. “Who is antifarmer, @capt_amarinder ji? Punjab or Haryana?” asked Khattar.