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
Defence sources said the customary exchange of Diwali sweets took place between the two armies at the Aman Setu bridge near the Kaman post in Uri sector of the LoC. The other point of exchange was Tithwal on the Kishenganga River in Tangdhar sector of the LoC in Kupwara district.
Director General of Police Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota said the Ludhiana rural police earlier this week arrested two persons for providing shelter and logistical support to the accused, Ranjeet Singh, alias Gora, in the Jalalabad blast case, which is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who reached Ayodhya for the fifth 'Deepotsav' (festival of lights) event, while inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of various projects worth Rs 661 crore, credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the construction of a grand Ram temple and also launched an attack on the opposition parties.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday warned that if the farmers' demands are not met till November 26, they would pitch tents the following day across all borders of Delhi and reinvigorate their agitation.
In a bonanza to the people of Punjab ahead of Diwali, the Punjab Cabinet on Monday decided to reduce the power tariff to domestic sector consumers having connected load up to 7 KW by Rs 3 per unit.
The Congress is offering 40 per cent reservation in tickets to women in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, because the party knows that it would not come to power in the politically crucial state anyway, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said here on Monday.
