Support govt in farmers’ interest, Capt Amarinder Singh tells Akalis

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 27

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday asked the SAD to put aside its political compulsions and follow its heart in the interest of the state and its farmers on the issue of farm sector ordinances of the Central Government.

Recalling that he had made the same plea to the Akalis during the all-party meeting, the Chief Minister lamented that the SAD was not realising the grave implication of these ordinances and was putting its political interests before that of the state.

Instead of backtracking on his party’s support to two of the three points of the resolution adopted at the all-party meeting, Sukhbir should, in fact, come out in full and categorical support of the entire resolution, he said.

He said during his first tenure as the Chief Minister, he had abrogated the water agreements with neighbouring states to save Punjab’s water from being taken out via the proposed SYL canal. Not only had he gone against his own party on the issue, he had also put his entire career at stake with this move, he recalled, adding that “Punjab’s interests are paramount for him, as they should be for the Akalis too.”

Pointing out that the three ordinances in question were based on the recommendations of the Shanta Kumar committee, which had advocated ending the MSP regime and dismantling the FCI, the Chief Minister said if the ordinances were allowed to be enacted, the Centre would get the green signal to interfere in the state subject of agriculture for all times.