Capt: Bandh response clear message to scrap farm laws

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 8

Reiterating that the farm laws were anti-farmer and were introduced without any discussion with the stakeholders, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said the unity showcased by the farmers through the Bharat bandh had underscored the need for repeal of the laws, followed by a detailed discussion on agricultural reforms.

Congratulating farmers for ensuring peace during the Bharat bandh today, the Chief Minister cautioned them against elements that could try to take advantage of their agitation and spoil the peaceful atmosphere of the state.

The Chief Minister asked why the CentralGovernment could not heed the demands of the farmers agitating across the country to scrap these laws and hold fresh talks with all stakeholders. “Had I been in their place I would not have taken a minute to accept my mistake and revoke the laws,” he added.

Asserting that the whole country was with the farmers in their pain and in their fight for survival, Capt Amarinder said the Central Government should allow the existing system to continue instead of scrapping the arhtiya and mandi system, which the farm laws intended to do. There was no reason why the Central Government could not listen to the farmers, who were braving the cold, and send them home happily after resolving their concerns, said Capt Amarinder. This was what he had told Union Home Minister Amit Shah too, he said, adding that he urged Shah to do everything possible to resolve the concerns of the poor farmers in their interest, and also in the interest of India’s security.

Rejecting the BJP’s allegation that the Congress manifesto had also talked about scrapping the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act, the Chief Minister said his party or the Manmohan Singh government never said the existing system should be discontinued. The Congress manifesto spoke about modernisation and not about doing away with what we have, he added.