Punjab Elections 2017: Akalis pledged to acquiring one lakh acres of land, in US and Canada, for farmers.
Others may worry about Brain Drain- Indians emigrating for better work and lifestyles elsewhere- but the Akali Dal, which governs Punjab, isn't among them. In fact, in its manifesto that was released yesterday for the election on February 4, the party has pledged to acquiring one lakh acres of land, mainly in the US and Canada, that would be made available to Punjabi farmers who want to relocate. The Akalis, who are in alliance with the BJP, say they will also help organize visas - and then rights to live and work - for people who sign up.
"There are many countries in the world like Georgia where Sikhs have set up the rural economy. So Sikhs are a very hard-working race and we want to help," said Union Minister Harsimarat Kaur to NDTV. Her father-in-law, Parkash Singh Badal, is Chief Minister. The Akalis' version of consulate services, a first-ever proposition by a political party, is not outlandish, she insisted. "A lot of African countries have been talking to us about sending our farmers (there), talks have been on at a high level. Many like Ponty Chaddha (real estate tycoon who was shot dead in 2012) have bought so much land abroad - so we want to encourage that."
For students, the minister said, the Akalis will chip in with visa fees. "We are committed to providing job opportunities- whether it is a farmer's son or poor person's son. Punjabis love going abroad. So (we will do) whatever is needed."
When the Akalis won the 2012 election, they promised voters free laptops and
atta-dal (grain and lentils). The later was a big hit, but Harsimrat Kaur Badal admitted that the laptops remained undelivered- she blamed "the lack of wi-fi."
When NDTV asked how her party will ensure that foreign farms are made a reality, she said the government has enough revenue to fund the project.