Congress seeks bonus on paddy Delegation meets Sonia in Delhi

Wednesday, 03/10/2012

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121003/punjab.htm#7

New Delhi : A delegation of Punjab Congress leaders, including MLAs and MPs, today met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to seek a bonus on paddy crop and a CBI inquiry into the alleged misuse of Central funds by the Punjab Government.

Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar, while addressing mediapersons, said: “Sonia Gandhi assured the delegation of discussing the demands with the Prime Minister and asked the party workers to meet the Prime Minister with the same set of demands.”

Other demands

• Direct payment to farmers
• CBI inquiry into ‘misuse’ of Central funds by state govt
• Capt Amarinder Singh, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal were not part of delegation
• Capt Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal were not part of the delegation as they were reportedly busy attending some pre-scheduled functions.

The Congress Legislature Party, while praising the FDI in retail, in a memorandum to Sonia Gandhi, said: “We congratulate you for the firm resolve and farsightedness shown in initiating economic reforms and making India steer clear of the global economic gloom. The FDI in multi-brand retail is a panacea to Punjab’s farmers’ indebtedness and will give a much-needed impetus to the MSME industry of the state.”

Demanding additional payment for the paddy crop, the MLAs said the payment should be made directly to the farmers. The delegation demanded Rs 50 bonus on each quintal of paddy to meet the expenses incurred on diesel.

Jakhar and MLA Lal Singh, while speaking on behalf of the delegation, said they had sought direct money transfer to farmers. The state had demanded a Rs 5,112-crore package, but the state Congress leadership objected to it and sought direct money transfer to farmers. During the 2009 drought, Rs 800 crore released by the Centre had failed to reach the affected farmers, they added.

The money was diverted and used by the state government to meet their fiscal obligations.

The Congress leaders also sought a CBI probe into misappropriation of Central funds by state ministers in the SAD-BJP combine.

“The Finance Minister of Punjab had acknowledged the diversion of Central funds on the floor of the Assembly.”

The delegation included Union Ministers Ambika Soni and Ashwani Kumar, MP Santosh Choudhary, besides MLAs Sunil Jakhar, Lal Singh, Tript Bajwa, Ashwani Sekhri, Jagmohan Singh Kang, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Arvind Khanna, Sukhjinder Singh Sukhsarkaria, OP Soni, Mohammed Sadiq, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Parminder Singh Pinkki, Aruna Choudhary, Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, Gurqibal Kaur, Rajnish Kumar Babbi, Gurkirt Singh, Surinder Kumar Dawar, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Gurcharan Singh, Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Tarlochan Singh, Sadhu Singh Dharamshot, Hardiyal Kamboj, Balbir Singh Sidhu, former MLA Madan Lal, PCC member Raman Kumar.