Cong flays Akalis on 'eviction' of Punjabi farmers from Kutch

Punjab Congress today charged the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with failing to safeguard the interests of Sikh farmers settled in Kutch region of Gujarat.
Participating in the debate on the Governor's address in the Assembly, Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar lambasted SAD for allegedly giving in to its demand of safeguarding the interests of Sikh farmers settled in Kutch region.
"I was surprised to note that when (NDA prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra) Modi came to Punjab recently, he not only ignored (Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh) Badal's demands but also failed to give any assurance to Punjab on the issue," he said, adding the Sikh farmers were facing eviction from Gujarat and had been seeking help from political outfits back home.

Jakhar advised the Akali leadership to follow Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who had put his demand of according special status to his state foremost before offering support to any party.
Touching the issue of unemployment, he said recently over 3.5 lakh applicants had thronged Chandigarh for taking exams for 300 inspectors' posts in the Food and Supplies Department.
"This trashes the government's claims on unemployment figures," he asserted. Jakhar said only holding investors summits "is not going to help the state".

Submitting a comparative figure of power tariff in Punjab and its neighbouring states, he said that "with high rate of power tariff how could you imagine new industry to come and old to survive in the state". He apprehended that new power projects coming up in private sector in Punjab will also cost dear to the common man.

Raking up the issue of law and order and linking it with the drug rackets, Jakhar urged the Chief Minister to rein in what he called as "criminal economy" which, he said, was left as "only avenue to the youth".
He also referred to the controversy surrounding cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia after a drug smuggler accused him of being involved in drug trade.