Chandigarh, March 24 (NationPress) Sukhbir Singh Badal, the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), expressed grave concerns on Tuesday, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab is inadvertently pushing farmers towards suicide due to their inability to provide essential support, including the promised minimum support price (MSP) for 22 crops.

In a poignant statement regarding the tragic decision made by two brothers, Jaswinder and Jaskaran from Faridkot district, who succumbed to insurmountable debt, Badal remarked, “AAP made grand promises but has utterly failed to deliver for our farmers. They didn’t even fulfill the commitment to purchase ‘moong’ pulses as assured by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.”

He criticized the government for not intervening to halt the distress sale of crops like cotton, maize, or potatoes, and noted the lack of promised compensation of Rs 50,000 for crop losses, particularly for farmers affected by last year’s floods, which devastated over four lakh acres.

While addressing a rally in Mansa as part of the Punjab Bachao campaign, alongside senior leader Prem Arora, Badal accused the government of focusing solely on advertisements rather than action. He stated that the AAP government has squandered Rs 4,400 crore on promotions, despite national statistics placing Punjab at 18th in school education among states, an assertion he underscored by mentioning that even the Chief Minister opted for a prestigious private school for his daughter instead of trusting government institutions.

Badal pledged that the next SAD administration would establish a World Skill Training University in Punjab, aiming to enroll one lakh students annually and develop skill centers in each district in collaboration with major corporations to enhance youth employability and secure higher salaries.

He also declared plans to install underground irrigation pipes in Mansa constituency, ensuring optimal water service for farmers. Badal affirmed that no water would be diverted to the Rajasthan canal; instead, it will be redirected to Punjab’s fields.

He emphasized a strict policy against allowing industrial or sewage waste into the Sutlej and Beas rivers, stating, “Violators will face serious consequences. This is crucial in combating the rising cancer rates in the Malwa region.”

In an ambitious initiative, Badal revealed plans to pave concrete roads in 13,000 villages across the state, committing to upgrade 2,500 villages each year. Furthermore, he announced an interest-free loan of Rs 10 lakh for youth, a revitalized Aata Dal scheme, and an increase in the old-age pension to Rs 3,100 monthly along with a Shagun allowance of Rs 1 lakh.

Farmers lacking tubewell connections will receive this facility, alongside a promise of 12-hour daytime electricity, with a 75% subsidy for establishing dairy and livestock businesses.

In her remarks, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal highlighted that the previous SAD government had invested Rs 650 crore in Mansa's development, which included essential sewerage, waterworks, reverse osmosis systems in every village, and improvements in both rural and urban infrastructure.