CHANDIGARH: Punjab’s political parties urged the Centre to redress the grievances of farmers by immediately withdrawing the three farm laws.
While condemning the "sponsored violence in Delhi", it was decided at the all party meeting called by Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday that an allparty delegation would go to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and raise the issue, along with other matters of concern on the farmers’ agitation. It added that farmers have shown exemplary resilience in their continued fight in a democratic manner.
The all-party meeting convened to evolve consensus on the issue, demanded an appropriate judicial inquiry to investigate the "laxity and complicity" of those responsible for maintaining peace and order at the Red Fort. Representatives of all parties appreciated the position taken by the Kissan Sangarsh Samiti of 40 Kissan unions including 32 Kissan unions from Punjab.
‘Trace, restore missing protesters to families’
Punjab's political parties urged the Centre "to withdraw all cases registered against the farmers, farm workers, journalists and other peaceful agitators, and release all those detained by the police or any other agencies." The missing agitators should also be traced and restored to their respective families without any delay, they said.
The meeting was boycotted by the BJP while AAP walked out after its demand for deployment of Punjab police to protect the farmers protesting at the Delhi borders was rejected by the CM as unconstitutional. "We talk about more federal powers for the states, then how can we do this," asked Amarinder. He remarked that the (AAP) chief minister in Delhi could request the Union home minister to provide security at the sites.
The resolution lauded Rakesh Tikait for his contribution to the struggle, and also thanked Haryana farmers for their support to Punjab farmers in the agitation.
Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar hit out at the central government over the situation prevailing at the Delhi borders. He said the pictures of Delhi Police personnel standing with steel rods, armed protectors, cemented blockade and spikes, were reminiscent of Chinese troops at the Galwan Valley.
AAP leader Bhagwant Mann alleged that the Red Fort violence seemed to have been pre-planned, considering that the high-security monument appeared to have been left unattended by security forces.
Terming the agitation so far as "historic and unparalleled", the resolution said the January 26 acts "are truly condemnable and need to be probed thoroughly." However, these should not be the reason to victimize the agitating farmers, farm workers and others including the media persons, said the resolution, calling upon the government "to take steps to ensure that the farmers and farm workers participating in the agitation are not victimized in any manner."
The resolution also called upon the Centre "to make MSP a statutory right of the farmers, and continue with the procurement of foodgrains through FCI and other such agencies as at present," adding that "the procurement by Arhtiyas may also continue as earlier."
Noting that, as a result of the undue delay by the Centre in resolving the crisis, "not only the peaceful agitators and their families are suffering but several farmers and farm workers have lost their lives," the resolution demanded withdrawal of the new Environment Protection (Amendment) Act, 2020, while urging the Centre to drop the proposal to enact the proposed new Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2020.