Commit to purchase at MSP: Sukhbir to PM

Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, November 22

Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to understand the sentiments of farmers, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal asked him to commit to assured government procurement at minimum support price (MSP), besides ensuring protection of the mandi system.

Talking to mediapersons at the residence of former minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sukhbir said Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh should desist from playing a double game with the farmers and lead them from the front to get their all grievances resolved at the earliest.

He alleged that the CM was playing a fixed match with the Centre. “Capt Amarinder Singh is playing as per the script handed over to him by the Centre. This is the reason why he has approached the farmers now and prevailed upon them to vacate all railway properties in the state,” said Sukhbir, adding that the CM knew that the farmer organisations had lifted the ‘rail roko’ agitation more than two weeks ago.

Continuing his tirade against the CM, the SAD chief said Capt Aamarinder should have put pressure on the Centre to resume train services instead of approaching the farmers.

Targetting the BJP-led NDA government, Sukhbir said the Centre should not victimise Punjabis for standing with the agitating farmers. He asserted that the SAD had parted ways with the NDA to stand in solidarity with the aggrieved farmers.

“We will continue to stand by the farmers and assist their agitation in every way possible,” he said.

Speaking about the upcoming PGIMER satellite centre at Ferozepur, the SAD president said he had held a review meeting with the institute’s top brass a few months ago. “I am confident the project will be formally launched on Baisakhi.”