News Analysis India

Tag: Punjab Assembly election

  • Punjab polls: Samyukt Kisan Morcha warns parties against early campaigning

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Friday told all political parties that early campaigning for the upcoming Assembly election in Punjab would be considered anti-farmer, as it could divert the attention from their agitation. The farmer fiat came during a meeting with the representatives of all the parties, except the BJP. While most parties agreed, the SAD and the Congress said they would get back to the SKM after discussing the issue with their leaders. 

    After one-on-one meeting with the representatives of all the political parties here, farmers’ leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal and Harinder Singh Lakhowal said: “There is lot of time for electioneering. So, now stop the campaigning and wait till the dates are declared by the Election Commission of India, after which you can campaign.”

    Issuing the fiat, Lakhowal said: “They can attend social functions in villages, but no political function or rally is allowed. The government can organise small functions to distribute cheques for developmental works with a ceiling of 50-100 in attendance, but no big gathering.”

    Stating that the parties should withdraw cases against farmers wherever they are in power, the SKM also put forth a charter of demands, which included bar on seeking land records for direct benefit transfer, sending MPs and MLAs to Delhi to stage protests, among others.

    During the discussions, the SAD representative urged the SKM to retain the national character of the farmers’ agitation by not imposing any restrictions on political activities in Punjab, even as it offered all help to buttress the ongoing agitation on the borders of Delhi.

    Senior SAD leaders Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra and Maheshinder Singh Grewal said: “A conspiracy has been hatched by the Centre to restrict the Kisan movement to Punjab and then suppress it.”

  • Punjab govt in a spot after panel suggests FCI procurement of grains 

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH:  With only months left for the Punjab Assembly elections, the state government has found itself in a tough spot. An expert panel constituted by the state government to suggest medium and long-term economic strategies for Punjab in the wake of Covid-19 has recommended that the state stop foodgrain procurement and leave the task entirely to the Food Corporation of India (FCI).  It has also recommended that the government rationalise power subsidies and shut down two thermal power plants.  

    However, withdrawing from food grain procurement or rationalising power subsidy would upset farmers whom the government is trying to woo. The panel led by Montek Singh Ahluwalia called power subsidy an “unsustainable fiscal practice, which will harm future generations and cannot continue indefinitely.”Punjab’s power subsidy bill including free electricity to farmers is pegged at more than Rs 10,000 crore.

    Notably, in its first report, the panel had described free power to farmers as “highly regressive” and had said it has limited the “government’s ability to incur other expenditures essential for Punjab’s development.” The panel also called on the government to shut down two thermal power plants that have completed their economic life span and are now producing coal at a much higher cost. 

    “We would reiterate our recommendation in the first report that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited should shut down two thermal plants that produce power at a much higher cost than alternatives available to PSPCL, once these plants have completed their economic life span. Earlier, PSPCL had shut down Bathinda thermal Power plant as well. We however recommend that for these two plants, PSPCL should carry out advance planning to recover the best price for the assets and to ensure a smooth transition to other power sources,’’ the report said.

    The panel, which includes leading economists, was set up last year by the state government to frame a medium and long-term post-Covid economic strategy for Punjab. The panel said that the state government could reduce losses on foodgrain procurement operations. “Given the large presence of FCI in the procurement process, the State government should gradually withdraw,” the panel said.  Among other recommendations, the panel suggested an increase in budget allocation for the healthcare sector by 20% and setting up of Punjab Enterprise Promotion Panel.