DW BUREAU / New Delhi/Chandigarh

During discussion session on Budget, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, AAP's Member of Parliament from Sangrur, cornered the Central Government for completely ignoring Punjab's farmers. Criticizing the neglect of Punjab's farmers and need for crop diversification, he demanded a special package for Sangrur's agriculture-based industries.

In his address, Meet Hayer said that Punjab led the nation in the Green Revolution, sacrificing its air, water, and soil. Expressing concern over Punjab being completely ignored for crop diversification, Hayer demanded a special package for the state. He said that it is unfortunate that the justified demands of Punjab's farmers, who have been protesting for over three years for the minimum support price (MSP), have not been acknowledged. He specifically sought a special package for the agriculture-related industries of Sangrur, such as the combine harvester industry of Handiaya.

Presenting statistics on the Central Government's failures in the economic sector, Meet Hayer said that the government has miserably failed in areas like per capita income, GDP, and the depreciating value of the rupee against the dollar. He pointed out that India lags significantly in per capita income. In India, the income of only a handful of people has increased, while the general population's income growth has been negligible. Highlighting the disparity, he said that the condition of the common man is aptly described by the saying "Amdani Athani, Kharcha Rupaiya."

Mocking the income tax slab, he remarked that the vast majority of the country's population is entirely excluded from its benefits. Commenting on the depreciating rupee value, Hayer sarcastically noted that BJP leaders used to say 10 years ago that the "rupee is in the ICU," but now under their rule, the rupee's condition against the dollar is at its weakest.

Underlining the importance of AI (Artificial Intelligence), Meet Hayer advocated for significant work in this domain. He expressed disappointment that only Rs. 500 crore has been allocated in the budget for what is the most urgent need of the times. He pointed out that while the world is heavily investing in AI, leading global institutions like Google, Microsoft, IBM, and the World Bank are headed by Indians, and the country is full of young talent, this sector has been utterly neglected by the government. India has the potential to lead the world in AI, but due to the government's policies and intent, it is falling behind.

(editor@dailyworld.in)