AVOID PROTESTS IN PUNJAB AGAINST FARM LAWS, MOUNT PRESSURE ON CENTRE: CM APPEALS TO FARMERS’ UNIONS

CHANDIGARH

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh appealed to the representatives of various farmers’ unions on Monday not to hold protests across the state against the central farm laws passed by the Centre as the state government and its people have already expressed solidarity with them on this issue.

In his address after laying the foundation stone of government college at village Mukhliana in Chabbewal Assembly Constituency (District Hoshiarpur) at Rs 13.44 crore, the Chief Minister, without mincing any words, categorically said that the state where its entire people stood like a rock with them in favour of their legitimate issues, should desist from holding protests across the state against farm laws passed by the BJP led Central government and thrust upon them unilaterally.

Capt Amarinder Singh said these ongoing protests at 113 places in Punjab by the farmers were not at all in the interests of the state, which has considerably impacted its economic development and hoped his request would be acceded by the farmers on agitation. He, however, said that since these laws have already been rejected in the state assembly and replaced by the state government’s farm laws that were sent to the Governor for his accent but to our dismay, these have not yet been forwarded to the President of India.

Anything within the purview of his government was done by us promptly, said Capt Amarinder, adding that a delegation of various leaders from these farmers unions met him recently at Chandigarh to get the price of sugarcane hiked from Rs 325 to Rs 360 per quintal and the same was accepted by me at once. The Chief Minister further said that instead of holding a protest in the state, they should mount pressure on Union Government to get these laws repealed. The Chief Minister also announced to name this upcoming Government College after the name of Dr BR Ambedkar, the legendary Statesman and Architect of the Indian Constitution.

Launching a fierce attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Captain Amarinder said that Badals were double-crossing the farmers over the issue of farm laws. He said that farm laws were drafted with the consent of SAD with Harsimrat Kaur Badal as the Union Minister and even the former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal arguing in favour of these laws, but changing their tune completely when their move backfired.

Calling Congress as the only party who protested against these black laws from the very first day, the Chief Minister said that his Government called All Party meetings and then held consultations with the farm unions. Afterwards, the Punjab Government convened a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and passed Bills aimed at countering these farm laws.

The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of PAU-College of Agriculture at Ballowal Saunkhri in SBS Nagar district and kickstarting the academic session with admissions already made to 60 seats and classes set to begin from 1 October 2021. Pointing out further, the Chief Minister said that it would be the first time that a college of Agriculture outside the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana would come up with the BSc (Agriculture) course.