Chandigarh, November 19: Punjab ChiefMinister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday termed the Centre's decision torepeal all three black farm laws as much delayed but a welcome step. CM Channi,however said had Prime Minister Narendra Modi taken this decision much earlierseveral precious lives would have been saved.
Blaming the Centre for thrusting these blackfarm laws arbitrarily on the farmers without taking them into confidence, CMChanni categorically said, “The BJP led Central government should admit onrecord to have made an Himalayan blunder in bringing these bills for which ithardly bothered to even relent for the past one and half years.”
Notably, the farmers' agitation on the Delhiborders and across the state has so far claimed nearly 700 lives duringunparalleled struggle to safeguard their rights to secure livelihood and futureof their generations.
CM Channi said that incidents like LakhimpurKheri which happened during the struggle has put a slur on the fair name ofdemocracy and the people will never forgive BJP led Central government for itsmisdeeds.
Pointing out further, CM Channi said that nowwhen the Prime Minister has announced to withdraw these draconian farm laws heshould compensate the farmers adequately for the humungous losses of life andproperty suffered by them. Likewise, he also sought compensation for the stateon account of financial and property losses during the Kisan Morcha. He,however, said that state government has already provided government jobs to thevictim families of farmers besides financial assistance of Rs.5 lakh to eachfamily of the deceased farmer, who sacrificed lives in the farm agitation.
CM Channi also asked the Prime Minister toimmediately announce a financial package to relieve farmers and labourersreeling under the huge burden of debt. He also asked the Centre to make itsstand crystal clear on Minimum Support Price and public procurement of farmers’crops.
CM Channi, while describing it as victory ofpeople, said that the farmers have faced several hardships including thevagaries of weather to brave the mighty Union government. He said that thoughthe Union government left no stone unturned to harass, humiliate and demotivatethe farmers but following the footsteps of the great Gurus who have taught tous to fight against injustice, oppression and tyranny, the farmers continuedtheir struggle relentlessly. CM Channi said that this decision is outcome ofthe long and zealous struggle of the farmers and will be scripted in goldenwords in annals of history.
CM Channi said that this win after a longstruggle of more than an year marks the downfall of haughty Modi government andthe countdown has now begun when people will oust this tyrannical governmentand bring back Congress party to power. Quipping on Akali and BJP leadershipwho had been singing paeans for eulogising PM and his government for theserules, he asked them that with which face they will come to people now. CMChanni said that the nexus Of Akali-BJP and even Captain Amarinder Singh made all out efforts toweaken the farm movement but in the end it’s victory of good over evil.
CM Channi said that from day one hisgovernment has been opposing these laws tooth and nail. CM Channi said thatCongress party has also vehemently protested against these laws besidesextending all support to agitating farmers. CM Channi also mentioned that hisgovernment has outrightly rejected these black farm laws besides repealing thecontentious Contract Farming Act 2013 enacted by the then Parkash Singh Badalled SAD-BJP alliance government in the recently concluded special session ofPunjab Vidhan Sabha.
CM Channi further said that he had himself prevailedupon the PM to take these laws back during his meeting with him at his office.