SAD terms wheat bonus as 'delayed step'

Jalandhar, Apr 23 (UNI) Terming the ruling Congress 'anti-farmer' party, Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) general secretary and former Union minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the announcement of Rs 50 per quintal bonus for wheat growers was a delayed step which would not benefit the farmers.

Talking to reporters here today, Mr Badal said the Centre's sympathy for the wheat growers was a mere ''eye-wash'' as 80 per cent of the crop had already been purchased by the private purchasers and the announcement of bonus is not going to benefit such farmers.

He also condemned the UPA Government for importing 30 lakh tonnes of wheat and said that it again was an anti farmers move.

He also expressed his concern over Punjab Government's alleged apathy towards losses to potato growers of the state and said that the latter had faced a loss of Rs 350 crore due to a bad crop but the Amarinder Singh Government did not bother even to make a representation before the Centre for seeking compensation for the farmers.

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