Congress demands farmers' release, waiver of agriculture loan

Criticising the Punjab government for allegedly arresting more than 100 farmers for delay in loan repayment, leader of opposition in the assembly Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today demanded a complete waiver of such loans.

"It is highly deplorable that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which claims itself as a party supporting farmer rights, instead of helping the peasants has ordered their arrest for the delay in payment of instalments of loans taken from state cooperative banks," Bhattal told reporters here.

She said the Congress would take up the issue in the upcoming session of the assembly and demanded immediate release of farmers as well as waiver of the loan. The former CM cited the loan waiver under Beant Singh-led Congress government and claimed that the financial position of the farmers is "worse" now which needed a loan waiver.

Bhattal also blamed the SAD regime of not using the Union government funds properly as found by a Central team which visited Punjab recently.

Meanwhile, state Congress chief and local MP Mohinder Singh Kay Pee, who accompanied Bhattal, alleged that the state government has failed in even passing the 50% subsidy on diesel to farmers, as announced by the Centre.

However, he supported BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu's step to bring a Privilege Motion in the Parliament against Amritsar deputy commissioner for allegedly not inviting him during the recent visit of Canadian prime minister to the constituency.