The Fact News Service
Patiala, August 23
Former External Affairs Minister and Member Parliament from Patiala Preneet Kaur today condemned in strong words the high handedness of Bhagwant Mann led Punjab government in handling the farmers protest.
In a statement released here, the Patiala MP said, “I am deeply disturbed to see the visuals of Punjab police using extreme force against the elderly protesting farmers who were on their way to put forward their demands of timely and adequate compensation for damaged crops due to unprecedented floods in Punjab. I strongly condemn the highhandedness of the Bhagwant Mann government in dealing with peacefully protesting farmers.”
Targeting the CM, Preneet Kaur further said, “From last one month CM Bhagwant Mann has been making tall claims of providing compensation for every penny of loss incurred by the farmers before 15th August but the reality is very different, on ground absolutely no compensation has reached the farmers and when they are trying to raise their demands they are not only being lathi-charged but serious criminal cases are being filed against them, 52 farmers were booked yesterday just for protesting. This is highly shameful, especially for the party that itself was born out of a protest.”
Targeting the Bhagwant Mann government for the paltry announced compensation amount, Preneet Kaur said, “The Punjab government is playing a cruel joke on the farmers in the name of compensation. Whole farms of our farmers have been destroyed due to floods and most of them are unable to cultivate any crop as their lands have gone barren. Farmers have been demanding compensation amounting to Rs. 50,000 per acre but the Bhagwant Mann government is completely crushing them by providing just Rs 6,800 per acre compensation.”
Preneet Kaur also shared her condolences on the death of a farmer saying, “I express my sincerest condolences with the family of farmer Pritam Singh who lost his life while protesting at Sangrur’s Longowal. While I pray to Waheguru ji to grant eternal peace to the departed soul, I also urge the Punjab government to provide ex-Gratia compensation to the family of the deceased farmer.”
