Bathinda december 02:the shiromani akali dal today strongly opposed the proposed move of congress led upa government to decontrol the pricing of diesel on petrol pattern and termed this move a deliberate attempt by the union government to stifle the economy of punjabis.
Talking to media persons after inaugurating 66 kva sub station at village dhan singh khaana here today member parliament mrs. Harsimrat kaur badal said that this move would stifle the economy of farmers and transporters, who were pre dominantly punjabis. She said that shiromani akali dal would not allow decontrol of diesel till congress led upa government links the msp of agriculture produce with price index, accepting the recommendations of swaminathan commission. She said that on one hand union government has admitted in the parliament that out of 89.35 million farmers in the country, 43.42 million were neck deep in debt and 65.4% farmers of punjab were trapped in debt cycle and on other hand the decontrol of diesel without linking agriculture msp with price index would further push them deeper in the debt.
Questioning the deliberate silence of captain amarinder singh on such a sensitive mrs. Badal said that capt. Amarinder singh since 1975 had been working over time to help multinational companies at the cost of farmers. During 2002-2007, amarinder gave away precious village common land worth thousands of crores to reliance company under farm to fork scheme, robbing panchayats of their only source of income. He tried to befool farmers by allowing free power to them at the fag end of his tenure. He deliberately scuttled the construction of bathinda refinery for five long years to help a multinational refinery and now his silent support to diesel decontrol was meant to support multinational oil company lobby that would mint thousands of crores robbing already indebted farmers.
Threatening to launch a massive agitation against diesel decontrol move the member parliament said that shiromani akali dal would not allow congress led upa government to mortgage the interests of farmers and transporters to the multinational oil companies. Member parliament also inaugurated four ros at various places in goniana near here. On the occasion deputy commissioner mr. K.k.yadav and s.s.p bathinda dr. S.s.gill, sdm bathinda mr.sandeep rishi and district officers of various departments were also present
