Kin of farmers killed in agitations to get employment

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the next of kin of those farmers killed in farmers' agitations during the tenure of previous governments at Kadma and Mandiyali villages would be given employment.

Due compensation will also be given to the affected persons, he said while addressing a largely attended public meeting at Lohchab, the native village of Bhartiya Kisan Union President Ghasi Ram Nain, in Jind district.

He said that the rate of sugarcane would be further enhanced during the next crushing season. The present Government, had not only given Rs 135 per quintal as the rate of sugarcane, but also paid the arrears, pertaining to previous government to sugarcane growers.

Assuring that the Congress led government would get the remaining portion of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal completed, Mr Hooda launched a scathing attack on Indian National Lok Dal leader Om Prakash Chautala, saying that although he had been posing himself as a pro-farmer, he had nothing to do with the interest of the farmers.

He said that had Ch. Devi Lal not created hindrances in the implementation of Rajiv-Longowal Accord, the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal would have been completed much earlier.

Mr Hooda said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had paved the way for the construction of this important canal, but those leaders who were in habit of playing with the interests of the poor people did not like this decision and hampered the construction of SYL canal.

He pointed out that most of the construction work of SYL canal had been completed during the tenure of Congress government.

Describing the SYL canal as the lifeline of Haryana, the chief Minister said that Ch. Devi Lal kept misleading people on the issue of construction of this canal. This issue enabled Mr Devi Lal to become the Deputy Prime Minister, but he played no role in the constructions of the canal.

Even today, Mr Om Prakash Chautala has been misleading the people on the issue of SYL canal and he took no interest in its completion when Mr Prakash Singh Badal was Chief Minister in Punjab.

He made it clear that the intention of Mr Chautala to mislead the people on the issue of SYL canal would not bear fruit.

Mr Hooda said that his Government has adopted a policy of equitable distribution of water and a number of irrigation projects have been implemented. The blockades set up by the previous governments in the minors namely Kharal, Dhamtan and Kalvan have been removed so that the people get their due share of water. He reminded that during the rule of Mr Chautala farmers were fired upon at villages of Gulkani and Kandela and cases of treason were registered against them. He said that his government withdrew these cases and restored the dignity of the farmers. Also, jobs were given to the next of kin of each such farmers who were killed by the bullets during the tenure of the previous governments. Such farmers were given the status of martyrs.

He said his government had waived off the arrears of electricity amounting to Rs 1600 crore against farmers and Rs 2924 crore would be spent during the current financial year for generation, transmission and distribution of power.

Mr Hooda further added that Rs 100 crore were being spent on various power projects in Jind district alone.

He said that projects to generate 5000 MW of additional power would be completed in next three years. As a result of the implementation of these projects, power would be available for 20-22 hours daily.

The government had purchased power at a rate of Rs seven to Rs nine per unit to ensure adequate supply of water for cultivation of paddy, he added.

He said that those who were opposing the setting up of special economic zone had nothing to do with the development of the state.

This project would provide employment opportunities to the youth and give revenue to the state.

Mr Hooda laid the foundation stone of a 33 KV sub station to be constructed in the village at a cost of Rs 1.78 crore. It would supply electricity to 13 villages. The sub station would be completed by June 2007.

UNI