Punjab CM Channi meets Shah, flags Lakhimpur incident, reiterates repeal of farm laws

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 5

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah here at his residence and flagged the issue of violent incident that took place in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri in which eight people lost their lives.

This was Channi’s first formal meeting with the Union Home Minister after taking over as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

Seeking the Home Minister’s personal indulgence in resolving the nearly year-long farmers’ imbroglio, Channi urged him to repeal the farm laws at the earliest.

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Channi, according to an official released by the office of the Chief Minister, expressed his deep anguish over the tragic Lakhimpur Kheri incident and told the Home Minister that “such barbaric acts would not be tolerated”.

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The others were BJP workers and their driver who Charanjit Channi. PTI file photowere allegedly pulled out of the vehicles and lynched. Two cars were set on fire.

Channi alleged that the “killing” of the farmers was “intentional”.

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Slamming the BJP government at the Centre, he said it should not force the country's youth to look at martyrs like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Shahid Udham Singh for again “restoring” democracy in the country.

Channi said the Lakhimpur Kheri incident was “painful” and demanded that the three controversial farm laws should be repealed immediately.

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Later, while talking to reporters after the meeting, the Chief Minister said, he also “condemned” the manner in which their leaders were arrested.

“They were on their way to meet the victim families of this unfortunate incident and this system must be stopped,” he said, adding that he hoped of a positive outcome of the discussions held in congenial atmosphere.

Moreover, the Chief Minister also raised the issue of illegal trafficking of drugs and weapons from across the border into Punjab. He said, “I sought personal intervention of the Union Home Minister to ensure sealing of the border, which will help the State in breaking the supply chain of drugs.”

Raising the demand for re-opening of Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, the Chief Minister impressed upon Shah to take an early decision in this regard so as to enable the devotees to pay their obeisance at the sacred place. To this issue, Shah assured the Chief Minister that they would soon take a decision to open the corridor after detailed deliberations, the official release noted.

Channi earlier alleged that a BJP leader had earlier told farmers that they would not be spared. “And then they (farmers) were killed intentionally. It was brutal.” He said the incident reminded of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy wherein General Dyer had ordered his troops to fire at peaceful civilians.

“Today, the same has been done with the farmers,” he added.

“It is necessary to recognise the voice of people. The governments in democracy should work according to the will of the people,” Channi said.

“Today farmers are upset and they are dying. Considering this, these (farm) laws should be repealed immediately,” he said.

He said incidents like in Lakhimpur Kheri should be stopped.

“(Narendra) Modi ji should stop his BJP people and the RSS. It will not work in the country,” he said.

On the issue of detention of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Uttar Pradesh, Channi said, “This is too much. It is unacceptable”.

"Today, the blood of all the countrymen is boiling,” he said. — With PTI inputs

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