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This is an archive article published on August 30, 2011

Cong calls for march to Gobindpura on Sept 2

Punjab Congress president Capt. Amarinder Singh said his party would continue to agitate in support of the farmers of Mansa.

Punjab Congress president Capt. Amarinder Singh today said his party would continue to agitate in support of the farmers of Mansa,and would march to Gobindpura on September 2. The coming SGPC elections would not be a referendum on the performance of the Akalis,he said; that would be in February 2012.

At a joint press conference,Amarinder,along with Congress in-charge Gulchain Singh Charak and legislative party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal,said the SAD-led government had betrayed the people on land acquisition.

The “only solution”,Amarinder said,would be for the government to give compensation of Rs 50 lakh per acre to the farmers,jobs to two members of the family,and a Rs 45,000 per year annuity for 33 years.

Punjab,Amarinder said,must go by the Haryana Land Acquisition Policy until the National Land Acquisition Policy is in place.

“The government gave only Rs 23 lakh per acre,and armtwisted farmers to accept the deal.

“On September 2,we will go to Gobindpura,and face arrest if needed. From that day onward,100 volunteers from all over the state will march to the village every day,” Amarinder said.

Amarinder described Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s meeting with farmers’ representatives on Sunday as a diversionary tactic and attempt to buy time. “Badal knew our protests would continue until the farmers’ demands are met… We know his assurances are hollow,which the government has no intention of fulfilling.”

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He said it was surprising that the Punjab government had failed to give its opinion on the draft of the proposed land acquisition policy circulated by the government of India.

Amarinder said stern action would be taken against those found guilty of the incidents of indiscipline witnessed during Charak’s visit to Gurdaspur and Jalandhar.

On the issue of the Lokpal,Amarinder Singh said the Congress would work to strengthen the anti-corruption ombudsman in Punjab when it comes to power.

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