New Delhi,August 11: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urgedPrime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately initiate steps for the repeal ofthe controversial Farm Laws, and amendment to the relevant law for includingfarmers in free legal aid category.
The ChiefMinister, who called on the Prime Minister here late this evening and submittedtwo separate letters, called for immediate review and revocation of the threeFarm Laws that had triggered widespread resentment among farmers of Punjab andother states, who had been protesting at the Delhi borders since November 26last year.
Pointingto the prolonged agitation, which had cost the lives of more than 400 farmersand farm workers, the Chief Minister said the stir had the potential of posingsecurity threats for Punjab and the country with Pak-backed anti-India forceslooking to exploit the farmers’ disgruntlement with the Government.
Urging thePrime Minister’s intervention for expeditious redressal of the farmers’legitimate concerns by the Government of India to explore an enduring solution,the Chief Minister said the continued agitation was not only impacting economicactivities in Punjab but also had the potential to affect the social fabric,especially when political parties and groups take strong positions.
CaptainAmarinder noted that he had earlier too, sought the Prime Minister’sappointment for a meeting with an All-Party delegation from Punjab. He furtherunderlined the need to compensate farmers for the management of paddy straw @Rs.100 per quintal and also to address the fears of DAP shortage, which couldaggravate the farmers’ problems and the crisis triggered by the Farm Laws.
In anotherletter, the Chief Minister stressed that due to the fragmentation oflandholdings, and persistent disputes with lessees and various market operatorsand agents, the farmers are also facing heightened litigation these days,causing stress on their meager financial resources. Stressing the need toreduce the farmers’ financial burden as a result of such litigation, he notedthat the Central Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 provides free legal aidto certain categories of persons, who are perceived to be the vulnerablesections of the society. Pointing out that the country’s farmers are also veryvulnerable, he said that they are, at times, compelled to commit suicide due tofinancial problems, even though they remain proud and prefer to till their landeven at the cost of their lives.
“It is,thus, the need of the hour to amend Section 12 of the Legal ServicesAuthorities Act, 1987, to include farmers and farm workers in the category ofpersons entitled to free legal services to pursue and defend themselves in thecourts to secure their livelihood,” said Captain Amarinder. He felt this stepwould help reduce cases of farmer suicides and ensure better protection oftheir legal and financial rights.
The ChiefMinister urged the Prime Minister to advise the concerned central ministriesdealing with farmer welfare and laws to carry out necessary amendments to theLegal Services Authorities Act, 1987, in the larger interest of the farmers.