Lakhowal criticises Centre for ignoring Punjab plea

Moga, Jan 18 (UNI) Punjab Mandi Board Chairman and President Punjab Unit of Bharti Kisan Union Ajmer Singh Lakhowal today strongly criticised the Centre for ignoring Punjab's request to waive Rs 25,000 crore debt of the farmers despite the assurance of the Prime Minister.

Mr Lakhowal, while interacting with reporters here, said that he had faxed a letter today to the Prime Minister seeking his personal intervention to press the Union Food ministry to release similar relief for waiving the debt of Punjab farmers which had accumulated to a whopping Rs 25,000 crore.

He was commenting upon the release of Rs 530 crore to waive loans of farmers in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.

While welcoming the release of Rs 530 crore to the four states for waiving of farm loans, Mr Lakhowal stresssed that the Centre should apply the same approach for Punjab also.

He emphasised that Punjab farmers deserved a fair deal from the Centre as the state was contributing major share in the Central pool of wheat and paddy.

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