Exploring all avenues to oppose farm legislations

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh says his government is exploring all avenues to fight the new farm Acts legally.

In his interaction with Sanjeev Singh Bariana, he spells out his future course of action.

• Former Union minister Harsimrat Badal claims the Congress had, in its manifesto, promised privatisation of ‘mandis’ among other provisions that the new laws contain?

Harsimrat can’t be trusted. For that matter, even Sukhbir. Harsimrat first claimed that the farm ordinances would benefit the farmers, then she said farmers felt those were dangerous. And, the SAD’s former alliance partner BJP claims it had left the job of convincing the farmers to the Akali leadership. As far as the Punjab Congress manifesto is concerned, I want everyone, especially the media, to go by facts instead of taking Harsimrat at face value.

• The Opposition is alleging that the state government was in the know and that Finance Minister Manpreet Badal had endorsed farm reforms at a NITI Aayog meeting?

There is no question of Manpreet or any other Punjab representative endorsing something that never came up for discussion. These are all lies that the Union Government has been propagating, beginning with the claims made by a Union minister in Parliament. That’s what the Badals did before the 2017 elections.

• You met different farmer groups today. What were their grievances?

I met representatives of 31 organisations not as a politician, but as Chief Minister, to take suggestions from them. I will now discuss the matter with legal experts. I have assured the unions that my government will fight tooth and nail to protect their interests.

• Do you think the core issues concerning the farmers are being overwhelmed by political parties, who seem to be taking over the fight against the farm laws?

I don’t think farmers are so weak that anyone can take over their fight. The fact is that it is a matter of concern for entire Punjab. That’s why I had convened an all-party meeting to reach a consensus on the issue. The BJP and the SAD had aggressively defended the ordinances then, ignoring the interests of the state and its farmers.

• Can Punjab consider ensuring MSP on 20 other crops besides wheat, paddy and cotton under the proposed legislation?

We are considering all legal options and taking advice to see what can be done to protect the interests of our farmers. Assured MSP on all crops is something we have been consistently fighting for. But instead of considering our demand, the Union Government is bent on doing away with the MSP altogether.

• What policy should the Centre pursue to avert confrontation with the farming community?

The Centre needs to rethink these legislations and scrap them or at least put them in abeyance and defer their implementation, till the time they can discuss their implications with all stakeholders, including the farmers and state governments. Also, as I have maintained repeatedly the anger of the farmers will provide Pakistan and its ISI the platform for exploiting this opportunity to foment trouble in Punjab, which will cause serious problems for India.

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