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Package for debt-ridden farmers soon: Amarinder

Staff Correspondent

"Initiative will provide considerable relief to farming community"

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh

CHANDIGARH: Close on the heels of his rejection of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy and cotton, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has announced that the State Government would soon unfold a liberal package on rural indebtedness to bail out the farmers from the vicious debt trap.

Addressing a public rally at the grain market in Ghanaur town of Patiala, Capt. Singh said that the initiative would go a long way to provide considerable relief to the farming community, which was reeling under tremendous pressure on account of the agrarian crisis borne out of a stagnating economy in the primary sector.

Referring to the debate on the overall development and progress in the state during the forthcoming two day special session of the State Assembly, Capt. Singh accepted that the State government was prepared to extend the session to eight weeks instead of six weeks as demanded by the leader of the opposition and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Parkash Singh Badal provided the latter had anything tangible to discuss.

Cautioning that it should not misunderstood or misinterpreted that the government was attempting to appease Mr. Badal, the Chief Minister said that the Akalis should come prepared for major grilling as the entire proceedings of the debate shall televised live to enable the people to make their own assessment about the counter claims on various issues.

Later, talking to reporters, Capt Singh said that the objective to reshuffle the portfolios of the Ministers was to bring efficiency in the administration through injecting fresh ideas in the functioning of the departments.

Responding to another question, Capt. Singh said that he was misquoted about denial of party tickets to the "tainted" Ministers or MLAs.

He however, stood by the statement of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and in-charge of the party affairs in Punjab, Janardhan

Dwivedi, who was quoted during his recent visit as saying that the candidates with bleak prospects could be replaced by candidates with better chances. He said that "winnability" of the candidate would be the sole criterion for the allotment of tickets in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

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