Previous CMs absence from Niti Aayog meetings harmed state's interests : Malvinder Kang

Accusing the previous governments of doing little to protect the rights of PUnjabis, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday said that, because chief ministers in the last three years did not bother to attend the Niti Aayog meetings, it has harmed the interests of the state.

Addressing a press conference here, Chief Spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said that previous CM including Captain Amarinder Singh and Charanjit Singh Channi did not go and attend Niti Aayog meetings but merely wrote letters to the union government which did not serve any purpose.

He said that while previous CMs remained confined to their palaces and ignored the interests of the state, Bhagwant Mann utilised platform of Niti Aayog to raise the issues being faced by the state and its farmers.

He said that at the meeting of the Niti Aayog, CM Mann raised the issue of crop diversification, legal guarantee on MSP, promotion of food processing industry, special allocation of funds for rejuvenation of canal system, MSP for pulses and its assured marketing system in addition to other pro-farmers issues.

He said that the chief minister also sought a special financial package to rejuvenate Punjab’s ageing canal system. These canals were constructed in pre and post independence years and but have now become old and dilapidated. They are unable to meet the needs of farmers and it is absolutely essential to repair and strengthen them properly so that they can meet the irrigation requirements of farmers, said Kang.