Chief Minister’s Office, Chandigarh, Punjab, January 6: Stressingthat there was nothing wrong with the demands of the farmers, Punjab ChiefMinister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged the Prime Minister toimmediately repeal the Farm Laws in order to resolve the crisis.
Categorically rejecting as “highly irresponsible” reports ina section of the media that Punjab had already implemented the new Farm Laws,the Chief Minister said Food Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu’s statement had beenmischievously twisted by one newspaper, with others picking it up.
Punjab was the first state to have opposed the central farmlaws and, in fact, passed amendments Bills to negate their dangerous impact onagriculture, he pointed out, slamming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for spreadingmisinformation on the issue with their fake propaganda machinery.
The Governor, he said, “should have forwarded our Bills tothe President for assent, which he has not done.”
The Chief Minister, in a media interview, made it clear thatPunjab would not allow the lives of its farmers to be ruined by the new laws.“We will do whatever possible to help the farmers and their families, for whomthe state government had already started two helplines on which they couldreach out in case of any emergency,” he said.
Urging the Prime Minister to withdraw the controversial lawsand talk to the farmers, Captain Amarinder said, “The farmers have made theirstand very clear - that the laws shouldbe repealed. It is the job of the Government of India to listen to them.” TheCentre can bring in new laws after due consultation with the farmers, he said,pointing out that the Constitution has been amended many times and can be doneagain for the revocation of the recently enacted farm legislations.
Noting that farmers from across the country had joined theprotests against the Farm Laws, Captain Amarinder said after 6-7 meetings, itwas time that the matter is resolved and the farmers, who are sitting out inthe cold and rains, can go back and everyone else can get on with their lives.
The Chief Minister lambasted those calling the protestingfarmers Naxals and terrorists, terming it as wrong and irresponsible.