PunjabChief Minister Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday appealed the Centre toimmediately repeal the three black farm laws otherwise his government wouldconvene a special session of Vidhan Sabha to reject these anti-farm lawsoutrightly to safeguard the interest of the farmers and farm labourers, who arealready passing through acute economic crisis.
Addressingthe media persons here at Chief Minister's Office, Mr. Channi said he hadalready asked the then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to reject theselaws but the Cabinet at that time authorized him to take any decision, as hedeems fit. He, however, chose to bring the amended bills instead of rejectingthese draconian farm legislations.
Urgingthe Centre to give due recognition to the border state of Punjab for itsunprecedented sacrifices to uphold the country's integrity and sovereignty, Mr.Channi said that the Centre should not try to foment trouble in the state likeJ&K rather it should sincerely resolve the ongoing farm crisis at theearliest in the larger interest of the country.
Reiteratinghis firm commitment to stand by the farmers and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha inthis hour of crisis, the Chief Minister said that he would even lead a mammothmarch towards Delhi either by foot or on bi-cycle to support their cause incase the Centre doesn't concede their demand to repeal these laws forthwith.
Expressingsolidarity with the farmers and the farm labourers in their ongoing agitationagainst these farm laws, the Chief Minister categorically said that he wouldsupport their concerns. He bemoaned that these laws would ultimately perish thestate's peasantry as our beleaguered farmers are already reeling under whoppingdebt to the tune of Rs.1 lac crore and thus the Centre should now come forwardto bail them out from this financial crisis. Mr. Channi said it is ironicalthat 'Anndaata' has been virtually forced to become 'Bhikhari' due to theCentre's apathy and stubborn attitude. "If Centre can afford to waive thehuge loans of big corporate houses what stops it from waiving the loans of poorand needy farmers?” quipped Mr. Channi. He, however, said that the stategovernment had already provided relief to the small and marginal farmers uptoRs.2 lac and now farm labourers are also being extended relief to the extent ofRs.25,000, with whatever little resources it had.
Extendinga healing touch to the victim families of the deceased farmers, who lost theirlives during the stir against these farm laws, the Chief Minister said hisgovernment has provided government jobs to their family members besides givingfinancial assistance of Rs.5 lac per family.
Touchingan emotional chord, the Chief Minister shared an incident where he personallyhanded over an appointment letter recently to such family who were living inextremely deplorable conditions in a house even without a roof. He said thevictim of that family in Bathinda district was constructing the house with thefinancial aid of Rs. 5 lac received from the government.
Listinghis government's priority to provide houses to houseless, the Chief Ministersaid that the process of allotment of 5-marla plots is being simplified and hasnow empowered the BDPOs to decide the cases after the resolution passed by theconcerned village panchayats. The entire process to identify and finalize theallotment of plots to the eligible beneficiaries would be completed within amonth, added Mr. Channi.