Chandigarh, April 8 – Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today appealed to Punjabis to stand up as one to help distressed Punjab farmers whose standing wheat crop had been damaged across 1.25 lakh acres following unseasonal rain and hail storms in the same manner in which they came to the rescue of farmers whose paddy crop was destroyed during devastating floods last year.

The SAD president, who held a meeting with the party’s halka incharges and district presidents, said a detailed plan had been charted to start distribution of wheat as well as dry and green fodder to the affected farmers after April 20. “We are creating nodal points for collection of the relief material which then will be distributed in the affected villages”.

Badal announced that SAD is arranging free balers to help affected farmers earn extra income. He added that the party will also provide aid to small farmers whose vegetables were destroyed by recent hailstorms.

Punjab Farmers : AAP promised $₹50,000$ per acre in advance compensation before the 2022 polls

The SAD president also took on chief minister Bhagwant Mann for failing to fulfill his responsibility towards the suffering farmers. He reminded the CM that AAP promised $₹50,000$ per acre in advance compensation before the 2022 polls. However, the government has failed to pay for even last year’s 4-lakh-acre flood damage. “Now also the government has refused to help the distressed farmers by releasing compensation to them”.

Vowing to fight for farmers, Sukhbir Badal slammed Arvind Kejriwal for lying in Gujarat about flood relief. He exposed Kejriwal’s false claim that AAP paid $₹50,000$ per acre compensation in Punjab.

RHailing the High Court’s order to clear all DA dues by June 30, Sukhbir Badal called it a “victory for employees.” He slammed the AAP government for evading payments worth $12,000$ to $15,000$ crore. He said besides serving employees even government pensioners were also affected.

Mr Badal said both the erstwhile Congress and the present AAP government had discriminated against government employees. The AAP government is freezing recruitment and questioning the legality of DA benefits. This is a sharp departure from the SAD government, which regularly appointed Pay Commissions and released DA dues promptly.”

The meeting was attended by all district presidents and halka incharges.