Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab: Will nullify PPAs, Centre’s three farm laws in upcoming assembly session, says Navjot Singh Sidhu

BATHINDA: Newly-elected president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Navjot Singh Sidhu has assured that power purchase agreements (PPAs) and ‘black farm laws’, which have broken the backbone of the state’s economy, would be repealed in the next assembly session. Sidhu made the announcement on Thursday, while virtually kickstarting the campaign for the next assembly elections in small rallies at Moga and Faridkot, though these were referred to as meetings of party workers. Addressing the packed gatherings, Sidhu said the previous SAD-BJP government had entered into power deals to protect their own interests. Similarly, the three black laws implemented by the Union government were a ploy to break the backbone of Punjab and these would be repealed in the next Punjab assembly session. He said Punjab did not need any Delhi model as it will be a model in itself. Similarly, as Punjab is capable of making its own laws, the state does not need those imposed by the Centre, he said. Describing SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s 13-point programme as “new lollipop”, the PCC chief said he (Sukhbir) should reveal the resources to make this programme a reality. The SAD-BJP government had plunged Punjab into a debt of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore, which is rising further, he said. “Today, we need to think about how to fill the Punjab coffers,” he added. Accusing the previous government in state of plundering the natural resources of Punjab, he said the state has an area of 1,100 km of rivers but it used to deposit only Rs 3 crore per month in the exchequer as sand revenue, which has now increased to Rs 300 crore under Congress government. Punjab was dominated by cable mafia, sand mafia, transport mafia and other mafias which are slowly being eradicated, he claimed. He denied any factionalism in Punjab Congress. He also announced to start constituency-wise rallies after August 15.

The Times of India

2021-08-06

Amritsar