The Hindu : National : Badal to meet PM over farmers’ plight

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Friday, Sep 14, 2007
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National

Badal to meet PM over farmers’ plight

Parkash Singh Badal

Patiala: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on September 14 to highlight the problems faced by the farming community in the State, a senior Dal leader said here on Thursday.

SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra told a press conference that the leaders would apprise the Prime Minister regarding the “miserable economic condition” of the farming community in state.

Mr. Chandumajra demanded the Centre fix the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy for Rs. 900.

Expressing deep concern over the depletion of ground water due to sowing of paddy and other water-intensive crops, Mr. Chandumajra said Punjab should also be compensated by royalty for this as water too was a natural resource on the pattern of royalty given to the other States for exploitation of coal and other minerals from the mines.

Mr. Badal, who shares power with BJP, has described as “shocking beyond belief and utterly insensitive” the Centre’s stand before the Supreme Court questioning the very existence Lord Rama and demanded an apology from the UPA Government. In a statement here, Mr. Badal demanded the Government tender a “timely and unconditional apology to the masses for having grievously hurt their religious sentiments.” He also demanded strict action against the officials responsible for the “blunder”. PTI

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