SHIROMANI AKALI DAL, PUNJAB YOUTH AKLIDAL LEADER MALLAN STAGES A PROTEST IN FRONT OF SONIA GANDHI'S RESIDENCE AGAINST LOAN WAIVER SCHEME

Chandigarh, March 4, 2008

General Secretary of Youth Akali Dal and a trusted lituenent of Shiromani Akali Dal President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mr. Sanjiv Mallan (Babloo) led a delegation of the farmers from Punjab to stage a protest in front of the 24-Akbar Road, residence of the Congress President and UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi at New Delhi. Mr. Mallan along with the farmers protested against the discrimination towards Punjab farmers in the so called loan waiver scheme in the Union Budget 2008-09.

Later talking to the media persons Mr. Mallan said that Punjab Farmers contributed more than 50 % grain to the National Pool but their share in the announced default waiver scheme is less than 2%. This is not enough to right off even 3% of the institutional loan of the Punjab farmers. Further Mr. Mallan said there is no mention of Artiya loan which was the main cause of farmers miseries towards the country. He demanded that the centre should pay all the Artiya loans so that the peasantry gets the same benefit from this scheme. He however added that the default readjustment scheme which the centre has publicizing as loan waiver is totally meaningless and mere election stunt. He doubted whether even a small portion of the petty relief announced by the centre could reaches the farmers in lieu of the several procedural complications