With paddy harvesting picking up and stubble burning on the rise in Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal has come out in support of farmers, saying that the party will not let farmers be victimised in the name of managing paddy stubble on their own without any assistance from the ruling Congress government.
No cases against farmers
SAD president Sukhbir Badal said his party would not allow any cases to be registered against farmers who burn stubble in despair after failing to get any assistance from the State government to tackle the problem. “Our stand is clear. It is the responsibility of the government to help farmers manage crop residue due to the huge cost involved in this task. In case it is unable to do this it cannot harass, threaten, penalise and register cases against farmers,” he said, adding that the party will protest any move that will adversely affect farmers.
Mr. Badal also asked the Congress government to announce a financial package for the distraught farmers immediately. “Farmers in Punjab are in deep financial stress and cannot be expected to pay for the management of crop residue after harvesting of paddy. The government must step in immediately and pay the actual cost of doing so by giving farmers financial assistance of ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 per acre. If the government does not do this, then it cannot force farmers to incur this cost themselves,” he added.
