Nabha (Punjab), April 4 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday demanded that the Punjab government release compensation of ₹50,000 per acre for wheat crops damaged in the recent hailstorm and rains in the Malwa region.
Addressing a rally here as part of the SAD's 'Save Punjab' campaign, the former deputy chief minister said the rain and hailstorm damaged crops in the districts of Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, and Sri Muktsar Sahib.
"Farmers are in distress. I am receiving calls from across the state, with farmers saying that they did not receive a single rupee for the damage caused to their paddy crop in the devastating floods last year," Badal said.
Now, they are appealing again for compensation for the damage to their standing wheat crop, he said.
The AAP government gave nothing to the farmers in the last four years, he charged.
"At least, it should fulfill one of its election promises by releasing compensation of ₹50,000 per acre to them," he added.
Badal further said the SAD stands for the restoration of the 2.5 per cent commission on the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat and paddy for 'arhtiyas' (commission agents). This is absolutely necessary to cover the rising operational costs of 'arhatiyas' in mandis.
"I condemn Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for failing to take up this issue forcefully with the Centre and ensuring justice for the arhtiya community. I assure that once the SAD forms the government, we will do our utmost to restore this commission," he said.
On the ongoing feud between AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and his party, Badal said, "Everyone realises that the AAP is a sinking ship, and even its leaders realise that they have done nothing for the people except to deceive them."
Outlining his vision for Punjab, the SAD chief said that if his party comes to power in the state in 2027, it would establish a world-class skill university, which would train 1 lakh youths every year and would have centres in each district.
He also announced that education up to the graduation level would be free for all Scheduled Caste, backward caste, and poor students under the SAD government.