Chandigarh: Even as he extended all possible help to families of protesting farmers, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said that the Akalis and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) should stop indulging in “petty politics” over the farm laws as the issue was not political, but concerned the future of the state and its children.
“The issue is not political, it concerns the future of Punjab, our agriculture and the future of our children. If we don’t oppose the Farm Laws, we will endanger the future of our children,” said the Chief Minister, addressing the people through the 19th Facebook Live #AskCaptain edition. Appealing to all not to politicise the agitation of the farmers, who were battling severe cold at the Delhi borders where they have been protesting for the past 28 days, the Chief Minister exhorted AAP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to stand unequivocally in support of the farmers over the Farm Laws.
Captain Amarinder said he had deliberately chosen not to go to the border of the national capital to express his solidarity with the farmers. Responding to questions raised on social media about his failure to visit the agitating farmers, he said it was out of respect of the feelings of the farmers, who have clearly stated that they don’t want any political parties to be involved.
Urging the farmers to take care of themselves amid the severe cold, Captain Amarinder asked them to call 1091 helpline or 112 police helpline for any emergency help for their families back in Punjab. Expressing concern over the death of 22 farmers during the ongoing protests, he prayed to Wahe Guru that the Centre may resolve the issue soon. “The ball is in their court,” he said, citing the fears of the farmers that the MSP system and the FCI procurement model would end as recommended by the Shanta Kumar report. “Who will buy foodgrains if FCI is wound up?” he asked, adding that this would eventually lead to an end to the PDS system. “Who will feed the poor then?” he asked.
The Chief Minister made it clear that the decision on farm laws was not taken at any committee of which Punjab was a member. “Arvind Kejriwal, Sukhbir Badal, Bhagwant Mann…they are all lying and playing politics. Ask them why they are spreading lies,” he said, adding that these leaders were spreading false propaganda to promote their vested interests.
Lamenting the treatment being meted out to the farmers, he said it was the hard work of Punjab’s farmers that had transformed India to self-sufficiency in food. He urged the Centre to immediately revoke the new laws in the larger interest of the entire country and its agricultural economy.