Chandigarh, May 4
The state’s AAP government led by Bhagwant Mann and the BJP have come face-to-face over the central government’s suspension of Punjab’s rural development fund and reduction in market fees. Reacting sharply to this dictatorial step of the Centre, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann cornered the “New BJP leaders” of Punjab.
On Thursday, in a tweet, Bhagwant Mann said, “BJP’s anti-Punjab and anti-farmer face is exposed..Despite our efforts, the market fee has been reduced from 3% to 2% and RDF from 3% to 0% in this Rabi season. …Punjab will lose 250 crore from market fee and 750 crore of RDF, total 1000 crore. Captain, Jakhar, Manpeet Badal, Bains brothers, Rana Sodhi, Kangar, Fatehjung Bajwa, Inder Atwal, who have become new BJP members, do they have the courage to take up this matter with Modi ji???”
The leaders of the AAP government of Punjab were constantly asking the Center to release the pending rural development fund. This money is used for the development of rural areas of the state. But the BJP-led central government kept denying Punjab its money, and now on top of that, this rabi season they reduced market fees and robbed Punjab of another 250 crore.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the Modi government has been working against Punjab and its farmers because of their defeat during the farmers’ movement. He said that today the center has again shown their bitterness towards Punjab and the farmers by brazenly refusing to give 1000 crores of the state.
Mann reminded the Modi government that it is Punjab and Punjab’s farmers, who made our country food sufficient. But in return what has the centre ever done for Punjab and our farmers? He also challenged the leaders of the Punjab BJP to take up this matter with Narendra Modi and said that they should raise their voice for the right of Punjab by opposing this dictatorial attitude of the Modi government.
