Sukhbir to meet PM for special financial package

Accepting the verdict of the people, President of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Sukhbir Badal today hailed appointment of Dr Manmohan Singh as next Prime Minister and revealed that he would soon meet Prime Minister to demand special financial package for border state to improve infrastructure, industry and farming sectors.

"Central government should announce special package for Punjab comprising of three components - loan waiver for farmers and landless labourers, extension of central tax concessions to state industry at par with neighbouring states and monetary assistance to improve infrastructure especially in border districts", Sukhbir told reporters on the eve of Manmohan Singh led Government taking oath.

He said that a delegation of Punjab government would soon meet the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh with comprehensive details of the proposed package. "I hope to improve centre-state relations in the present political scenario, union government will sanction a special package to Punjab, which will help the border state to usher a new era of economic development to beat recession," he added.

"There is need to extend special loan waiver for Punjab farmers and landless labourers, who contribute more than 60 percent of wheat and paddy stocks for central pool. Punjab is also facing water depletion in the process of making sufficient buffer stocks of food grains, hence, should be compensated accordingly. A special loan waiver scheme will set rural economy.