SAD hails Centre's decision to hike MSP; criticises Punjab govt on drug issue

The opposition Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab today hailed Centre's decision to hike the MSPs of kharif crops, claiming that the move will result in a direct benefit of nearly Rs 4,000 crore to state farmers.

A resolution passed at a core committee meeting of the SAD in Chandigarh said the Centre's decision fulfills the goals of the struggle waged by the party.

During the meeting, SAD leaders thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fulfilling his commitment to give farners a profit of 50 per cent over and above their cost of production.

SAD spokesperson Harcharan Singh Bains said the committee felt the decision on increasing the MSP would create the right environment to make agriculture a remunerative profession.

The SAD also offered "whole hearted constructive support" to the Punjab government in fighting the drug menace.

The core committee, however, regretted that the attitude of the ruling Congress party and some other political outfits in Punjab "had served only in ruining the image of Punjab's youth outside the state".

"The Congress has always cynically tried to take political advantage out of this sensitive problem," it said.

Commenting on the dope test issue, SAD also warned that "mothers, sisters and daughters" who are serving as employees in Punjab government "would not be allowed to be disgraced by the government by subjecting them to forced dope tests".

"The SAD-BJP government had succeeded to a large extent in its fight against the drug menace. Had the opposition parties then offered us constructive cooperation to the government then, we would havetackled the problem even more decisively. However, we will act in the larger interests of the Punjabis andwe offer full constructive support toto the government in fighting drug menace".