Terming the highhandedness of police personnel regarding farmers as “totally unacceptable”, Punjab state BJP President Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday said that compensation to all affected by this year’s monsoons should be released immediately without any delay on the pretext of Girdawari.
“The demands of farmers should have been handled in a humane way and nothing could ever justify the treatment meted out to our Anndatas,” Jakhar said in Chandigarh, referring to lathi charges on farmers during which a Sangrur farmer lost his life. Tearing into the state government for an inordinate delay in providing compensation, the senior BJP leader pointed out that it has been over a month since the Centre provided funds to Punjab but the state government has failed to extend that support to farmers. “When will you give Rs 20,000 per acre interim compensation to farmers? As per Delhi Model, when Girdawari is finalised?” Jakhar asked, targeting the state government for backtracking on its promise to give timely compensation. “Why are farmers being made to wait for Girdawari and how long will it take?”
Asking CM Bhagwant Mann to realise the constitutional duty of protecting citizens at all costs, Jakhar said, “No one’s conscious can ever allow an attack on a farmer demanding his rightful due from a government. Our farmers were only demanding their rightful due from this callous and insensitive dispensation when they were attacked.” Jakhar added, “Under this insensitive regime, farmers of our state are enduring two tragedies—one of flood fury and second of ineptness of this almost negligible government.” “This is acting as double whammy for our farmers who are regretting voting this government. It is astonishing that on one hand state government says they don’t need any funds from centre and then is not extending any help to farmers as well.”