Punjab’s farmers in ‘distress’: Warring seeks ₹50k crore package

New Delhi: Congress MP from Ludhiana, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, on Wednesday demanded a special package of Rs 50,000 crore for the state's farmers, who he said were in "distress". Initiating the debate on demands for grants under the ministry of agriculture, Warring, who's also the president of Punjab Congress, claimed that 750 farmers lost their lives in the state during the farmers' agitation against the three now-repealed agriculture laws, and demanded compensation for their family members. "The Centre should announce a special package of Rs 50,000 for the farmers of Punjab as they are in distress", Warring said. Referring to stubble burning by farmers, Warring suggested that the government should give an incentive of Rs 5,000 to each farmer, claiming the move will resolve the issue that causes air pollution.The Congress MP also said that due to the "tussle" between the Centre and the AAP government in Punjab, the farmers of the state have not received the flood relief provided under disaster relief funds. Participating in the debate, BJP member Konda Vishweshwar Reddy urged the government to increase the minimum support price (MSP) for pulses, saying it would help the farmers of Telangana. Appreciating the various steps taken by the government for the farmers, Reddy said inflation in the country is now the lowest, due to which the purchasing power of the farmers has increased. Naresh Chandra Uttam Patel of the Samajwadi Party urged the government not to allow the import of soybean, dairy products and cattle fodder from abroad, as it would "financially cripple" the farmers involved in these sectors.Patel also demanded that the government should increase the amount paid under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Trinamool Congress MP Pratima Mondal said the government has allegedly failed to resolve the problems of the farmers, leading to their poor economic conditions. Mondal referred to the farmers' agitation against the now-scrapped three farm laws and said during the protests, a close relative of a former Union minister allegedly drove an SUV over the protesting farmers, leading to several deaths. "The accused was given bail by the Supreme Court. There is no conviction, no accountability," she alleged. PTI