Khangura asks Sukhbir not to mock farmers to migrate - 21/09/2010
Qila Raipur MLA Jassi Khangura today asked the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal not to mock Punjab farmers to migrate to South America. He said, the intensive agriculture of Punjab has little in common with Central and South America.In a letter addressed to the Deputy Chief Minister, the Qila Raipur MLA said, “I am shocked that the major lesson from your latest international jaunt is a call to the poor Punjab farmers to migrate to South America”. He remarked, it is like telling someone who is begging for bread to have cake.
Asserting that this is a far from viable option, Khangura pointed out, there are major climatic, geological and seasonal variations and the large farms of that region, often running into thousands of acres, contrast sharply with the meagre sub-5 acre landholdings of Punjab.
He observed, “Brazil may appear a land of great opportunity from the window of your private jet but unless you can directly transfer farming practices and technologies from that country to Punjab, your latest visit will yet again have been a waste of money”.
The MLA maintained that it was not as simple as Sukhbir was trying to project it. “Were Punjab farmers to take up your call to migrate who would settle the substantial debts that they would leave behind?” he asked.
He said, the Deputy Chief Minister should address the basic issues rather than chasing illusive dreams. He told Sukhbir, “the biggest challenge for Punjab agriculture remains the diversification away from the wheat / paddy rotation. Your government and your latest trip have completely failed to address this fundamental issue”.
Moreover, Khangura said Sukhbir lacked credibility to be believed by the farmers. He disclosed that he had met many farmers over the last 2 weeks who were regularly reading news reports on Sukhbir’s latest visit. None was of the opinion that Sukbir had travelled for the benefit of Punjab agriculture, he said, while adding, shockingly, all were convinced that he was making yet more acquisitions of land for his private portfolio.
He said, the credibility deficit of Sukhbir was so much that even if he was making a genuine and sincere effort to do something progressive, the people of Punjab do not believe him.
21 September 2010
Jassi Khangura MLA
Chandigarh
