Will consult lawyers, says Punjab Chief Minister

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Khatkar Kalan, September 28

Launching a campaign against the Centre over the new farm laws on the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh at the martyr’s native village, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh today announced he would consult a team of lawyers on the “draconian” farm laws.

The CM was accompanied by his wife Preneet Kaur, Punjab affairs in charge Harish Rawat, PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar, Speaker Rana KP, ministers, 45 MLAs and six MPs. Holding placards, they sat on a dharna near the martyr’s statue for over an hour. The CM slammed the “step-motherly” treatment meted out to the Punjabis only to please corporate houses. “Will the Adanis subsidise foodgrain for the poor,” he asked, claiming the new farm laws would mean the end of the public distribution system. Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu and Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari did not attend the event.

My fight for poor

My fight is for the 75% farmers with less than five acres of land who live from hand to mouth. —Amarinder Singh

Tewari said his colleague had tested positive for Covid-19, so he had decided to keep away.

Later in Chandigarh, the CM announced that a campaign would be launched on October 2 to get the signatures of two crore farmers against the contentious laws that would be submitted to the President on November 14. Capt Amarinder said he had called a meeting of 31 farmers’ groups tomorrow to discuss the way forward. He accused the Centre of usurping powers granted to states under the Constitution. The CM asked why Harsimrat did not quit the Cabinet when farm ordinances were issued.