Do not compare Punjab with Vidarbha: Amarinder

Patiala, Oct 4 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said the condition of farmers in the country's Vidarbha region was different from those in Punjab and this could not be compared.

Talking to mediapersons after inaugurating Polo tournament here this evening, he said the circumstances of both Maharashtra and Punjab were different as far as the Centre's economic package for the suffering farmers of Vidarbha was concerned.

''The economy of Punjab farmers is revolved around 'ahrtiyas', whereas the farmers of Vidarbha are totally dependent on ordinary money lenders,'' the Punjab chief minister said.

He commented this when a scribe asked him regarding the allegations of CWC member Jagmeet Brar that Punjab Government was not fully prepared to put up the state's case in front of the prime minister and the Union government for compensation to farmers.

Refuting Mr Brar's charges, Capt Singh said the senior Congress leader should update himself before giving such statements in the media.

He said the Punjab Government had made a strong case regarding rural indebtness of the farmers and that he and his cabinet colleagues met Union Agriculture and Union Finance ministers several times. The matter was also raised by him during the recent Congress Chief Ministers Conclave in Nainital, he added.

Capt Singh refuted the criticism of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for not announcing any package for Punjab during his visit to the state. He said Dr Singh has been working on a long term plan for Punjab.

The total institutional debt of Punjab farmers has been estimated to the tune of Rs 13,400 crore. The total borrowings of farmers from the commission agents/money-lenders were estimated to be Rs 12,000 crore. The total burden of debt on farmers has thus been estimated to be Rs 25,400 crore as on March 31, 2004.

Capt Singh also said that he was very much disappointed regarding the statement of Rajya Sabha member M S Gill in which the latter criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not giving any relief package to Punjab during his visit.

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