MLAs try to corner Khattar govt on host of issues including farmers

Opposition MLAs tried to corner the Khattar-led government on a host of issues, including the farmers, which saw sharp exchange of words in the treasury benches in the state assembly during the resumed debate on the Governor's Address here Friday.

INLD and Congress MLAs also targeted the Khattar government on the issue of Aravallis, claiming that it has decided to amend the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), which could favour private builders, as the move would open up more land for real estate development as construction activity could be allowed in areas where it was previously disallowed due to enforcement of PLPA.

Senior INLD leader and Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala, former chief minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress' Anand Singh Dangi and Raghubir Singh Kadian were among the opposition legislators to raise the issue of farmers.

They alleged that the ruling BJP had not extended full benefits of the Swaminathan Commission Report and cheated the peasants.

There was day-long debate on the Governor's Address, in which various MLAs from opposition and ruling party took part.

Hooda said they have not implemented the Swaminathan Commission in real terms.

However, Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar, who launched counter-attacks on the opposition MLAs on farmers' issue, said, "The opposition is in the habit of misleading people on Swaminathan issue. They are making non-agenda as an agenda, but people are wise. We have implemented Swaminathan Commission's report."