The Hindu : New Delhi News : Demand for tax relief to Punjab industries

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Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008
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Demand for tax relief to Punjab industries

Staff Reporter

— Photos: Sandeep Saxena

VOICE OF PUNJAB: Farmers gathered at the Akali-BJP “Insaaf Rally” at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi on Tuesday. At right, BJP president Rajnath Singh being felicitated by Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal in the presence of his father, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

— Photos: Sandeep Saxena

NEW DELHI: Accusing the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre of handing Punjab a raw deal, speakers at a rally organised jointly by the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party here on Tuesday demanded a special tax concession for industries in the State besides a waiver of loans for the beleaguered farmers.

‘Centre apathetic’

Addressing the largely attended “Insaaf Rally” at the Ramlila Ground here, BJP president Rajnath Singh said the Centre had been apathetic to the travails of farmers in Punjab and demanded that the rate of interest levied on loans not exceed four per cent.

“There should also be a one-year moratorium on repayment of loans and no interest should be exacted for this period. Only the Centre can alleviate the cause of the farmers, but even the much touted Farm Income Insurance Scheme has not yet been implemented,” he added.

Speaking to a frenzied crowd that broke into rapturous Punjabi slogans every other moment, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said: “Right from the pre-Independence era, Punjabis have never shirked away from their duty. We are responsible for filling the granaries of the country, yet we don’t have food for our own State.”

Stating that the farmers as well as the educated youth in his State were seeking petty employment in large numbers, the Chief Minister demanded a total tax holiday for industries in Punjab on the lines of neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

He said he had met the Prime Minister and the Union Agriculture Minister and apprised them of the precarious predicament of farmers in Punjab.

Mr. Badal also seethed with anger at the Centre’s repeated intervention in issues pertaining to Sikh religion, especially in matters of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. “Several attempts have been made to belittle the power of the SGPC. These will not be tolerated. Sikhs are wary to go into battle, but once in, they will fight to the finish,” he added.

Among the political leaders who addressed the rally were Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu, and SGPC Chief Avtar Singh.

Advani absent

Senior BJP leader L. K. Advani was unable to attend the rally because of presentation of the Railway Budget in Parliament.

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