SAD demands immediate farm debt waiver

Former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today demanded that the Congress government in the state immediately waive farm debts to stop farmers from committing suicide.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief also launched the 'Jabar Virodhi Lehar' from Dera Baba Nanak here against the alleged "excesses" being committed against the party's workers by Congress men.
"The state government has played a cruel joke with debt- ridden farmers by making a provision of just Rs 1,500 crore in the Budget as against a debt of Rs 90,000 crore," he said.
Holding the Chief Minister Amarinder Singh dispensation responsible for farmers suicides, Sukhbir said his party would not rest till the government implements a complete loan waiver.

He said the SAD would soon draw up an agitation programme for the same and claimed that 150 farmers had committed suicides in the last four months.
Sukhbir asked Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal to explain why he had "cheated" farmers in the name of loan waiver.