Hooda’s plea to PM for bonus on wheat to farmer

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, MAY 1

Committed to protecting the interests of the farmers of  the state and working for their welfare, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has shot off a communication to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, pressing the demand for bonus on wheat to the farmers.

          Speaking to media persons after redressing the grievances of people in Rohtak today, Mr Hooda expressed the optimism that PM would act upon the suggstions made in the letter.

          The Chief Minister hailed the decision of the UPA Government to scrap wealth tax on farmland as a major decision in favour of the farmers and said that he had expressed his gratitude to the UPA Chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram.

         Describing it as a historic decision, Mr Hooda said it had become amply clear that the interests of the farmers were completely safe in the hands of the Congress Government. The speech of the Union Finance Minister made it quite clear that though there was never the intention to  impose wealth tax on agricultural land, it got imposed in the adjoining urban areas inadvertently following a bill passed in 1993. It never attrcated any attention until recently, evaded the notice of all governments, and remained in force, he added.

        Mr Hooda said that after this issue was raised, a large delegation of Congress leaders from various states met the Union Finance Minister and apprised him of the ramification of the entire issue, and its adverse impact on the farming community. Mr Chidambaram had assured that the interests of the farmers would be safeguarded at all costs.

          The Chief Minister said that he had recommended reduction in the interest on short-term loans for fertilizers and seeds from 11 per cent to four per cent. Haryana is the first state in the country which has implemented it. “After commencement of the Horticulture Mission, we urged the Union Government to start livestock mission which has since been implemented, giving the farmers the benefit of the crop insurance scheme”, Mr Hooda added.

          Extending his best wishes to the labours on the occasion of Labour day, Mr Hooda said that Haryana is the first state in the country to have scripted and implemented a labour policy. He urged the labourers to work with dedication and join hands with the government in the development of the state and the nation.

          Mr Hooda said that since the formation of the state and up to 2005, only Rs 41,000 crore was invested in the state, whereas during the tenure of the present government a sum of Rs 70,000 crore has already been invested and investment worth Rs 1 lakh crore is in the pipeline. Haryana is number one in the country in terms of per capita investment, he added.

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