Punjab CM Amarinder Singh meets PM Modi, stresses on farmer loan waiver issue

Punjab's newly-elected Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and put forward the loan waiver issue of farmers in the state.

"I mentioned the debt waiver issue to the Prime Minister. It was an extension of the demand we made earlier when we had gone to meet the Prime Minister as part of a Congress delegation led by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi. I said the debt loan waiver should be extended to Punjab farmers along the lines of Uttar Pradesh," Singh said after his meeting.

This was Singh's first meeting with the Prime Minister after becoming the Chief Minister.

Talking about cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to continue with his regular appearance in a comedy television show, Singh said the latter is a very intelligent man and is earning his own keep.

"He is earning his own keep. What objection can we have to someone earning his own money by his own means? People can have professions and run businesses. However, we have asked the Punjab Advocate General Ashok Aggarwal for an opinion and may change Sidhu's portfolio as Culture and Tourism Minister, if we are advised to," he said.

He further said if it is constitutionally fine for people to earn their own money, then there should be no objections.

Over who would be the next chief of Punjab Congress, he said, "Let Congress president Sonia Gandhi return. I will request her to choose someone else since I, as the Chief Minister of Punjab, cannot handle both the positions."

Singh is in the national capital for holding a series of meetings with government's top brass during his first visit to the national capital after taking over as the state Chief Minister.