AAP govt in Punjab unable to tackle challenges: Rahul
Darpan News Desk IANS, 19 Jan, 2023 10:57 AM
Pathankot (Punjab), Jan 19 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that even as the farmers of Punjab fed the country through the Green Revolution, they are now plunged into debt and uncertainty due to spiralling costs, no guaranteed prices, falling water levels and fertility, and failing insurance schemes.
Rahul Gandhi, in an open letter addressing the people, alleged that the AAP government in Punjab seems unable to tackle the challenges.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra which is being led by the former Congress president completed its eighth day in Punjab on Thursday.
"People are repeatedly forced to take to the streets to protest. Rather than listening to the people of Punjab, the government is listening to their leader in Delhi. The AAP government would do well to learn history's lesson -- Punjab cannot be governed by remote control.
"The people of Punjab are also struggling with challenges. Fighting against the three black farm laws, many farmers even gave their lives. However, the crisis continues, and fewer and fewer youth aspire to be farmers," he said.
The former Congress president said due to the policies of the BJP government in Delhi, the aspiring youths have hardly any opportunity.
"Openings in the Army and the public sector are falling, and policies like Agniveer will weaken the Army and deprive youth of job security. Demonetisation and a badly designed GST, have brought the small and medium businesses of Punjab's vibrant industrial cities to the brink. They are struggling to stay open. Facing unemployment, many of Punjab's youth look for opportunities abroad, and many others tragically take to drugs," he said.
Rahul said "the Bharat Jodo Yatra's message is of love and equality -- the message which Guru Nanak Dev has taught the world".
"We want the hard work of every person to be respected and supported. I saw this same vision in the eyes of the people of Punjab, and the determination to fight to achieve it. The Yatra is entering its final stretch, but I will not rest until each Punjabi, and each Indian, gets the results of their tapasya," he added
Assemblies, rallies, marches, and chakka jams, etc across various states were held to mark the one-year completion of the farmers' agitation that prompted the government to withdraw the three contentious farm bills.
Fastway Transmissions is the company that came to enjoy monopoly over the cable TV business in the state during the Badal regime, now led by Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait made it clear on Thursday that the protest by farmers will continue for Minimum Support Price (MSP) law and to oppose various legislations which are in pipeline and are harmful to their interests.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will visit Punjab on Saturday to support protesting teachers, it was announced on Thursday.
The newly created Cell Against Illegal Foreigners And Narcotics (CAIFAN) of Delhi Police has seized a huge quantity of heroin in the national capital valued at Rs 106 crore (approximately) in the international market, an official said here on Thursday.
The Centre on Thursday told all the states and Union Territories to be cautious about international passengers travelling from or through Botswana, South Africa and Hong Kong in view of a new Covid variant detected in South Africa.
