Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday slammed the farm-related bills being advocated by the central government.
While accusing the Akali Dal of remaining in the BJP-led NDA, Singh termed these legislations as "Kisan maaru, Punjab maaru (Destroy Farmers, Destroy Punjab)"."I do not know what enmity the BJP and the Akalis have with Punjab and why they are out to destroy us," CM Amarinder Singh said while launching the Virtual Kisan Mela of the Punjab Agriculture University in Ludhiana.With the participation of farmers, farmer representatives and other stakeholders, including ministers, MLAs and PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar, this launch was held with virtual connectivity at 100 locations.The farm-related ordinances will spoil the "abo hawa (environment) of Punjab, they will lead to growing angst among people, giving Pakistan the opportunity to stoke more fires, Amarinder Singh claimed.Delhi has to rethink on this issue, he stressed, adding that the legislation would undo the sacrifices made by Punjab and its farmers for over 65 years to make India self-sufficient in the food supply.Attacking his political opponents over the farm bills and the Satluj Yamuna Link Canal, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Amarinder Singh asked the Badals, "Did you not think even once what will happen to Punjab without agriculture and without water?"The Punjab chief minister said notwithstanding the Centre's denials, these new laws will eventually pave the way for the elimination of the MSP regime and end of the FCI, leaving the farmers at the mercy of big corporate, as suggested by the Shanta Kumar committee.While reiterating his opposition to the Centre's farm-related bills, Amarinder Singh said MSP is a Constitutional guarantee given by Parliament.
He went on to allege that MSP already announced on items like Maize is not being given to the farmers.Categorically rejecting BJP and SAD's claims that Punjab was on board with the farm ordinances, the CM Singh claimed the issue of these agriculture-related laws was never discussed at any of the high-powered committee meetings on agricultural reforms."Politicians should not lie on such grave issues with serious implications for our future generations," Amarinder Singh said adding, "Politics aside, this is an issue concerning the future of our children."With only 13 seats in Lok Sabha, the Congress was browbeaten and the bills were passed by the Centre with "brute majority", CM Singh said.The high-powered committee was clearly an eyewash, the Punjab chief minister said, waving the draft report shared with Punjab, which made no mention whatsoever of the ordinances.
His government's response to the draft report had, in fact, clearly listed its stand on any reforms, he added.Taking a dig at Harsimrat Badal, SAD leader who resigned from the Union government in protest against the farm-related bills, CM Singh asked why she forgot that the farmers were her brothers when the Centre brought in the ordinances"Had SAD stood with his government from the outset and put pressure on their ally, the BJP, the current situation may not have arisen," Amarinder Singh added.Even during the Covid pandemic, all the food grain distributed to the poor around the country came from Punjab's godowns, the Punjab chief minister said.
He also lauded the role of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in making India self-sufficient in food grains.