Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday, 28 September, sat on 'dharna' against the three contentious farm bills that were passed by Rajya Sabha on 20 September, which had triggered a nationwide protest.
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday also gave assent to the three bills, even though the Opposition suggested that the bills should be sent back for review.
Totally Unconstitutional: Punjab CM Slams Passing of Bills
The Punjab CM told the media that the state government will be going to the Supreme Court, against the passing of the farm bills.
“Agriculture is a state subject but farm bills have been passed without asking us. It is totally unconstitutional,” reported ANI.
AICC General Secretary and state affairs in-charge Harish Rawat, state party chief Sunil Jakhar and Cabinet ministers were among those present.
Addressing a press conference on Monday and speaking about Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s resignation over the controversial farm bills, the Punjab CM said, “Ordinances have to be approved by the Council of Ministers. Why didn't she oppose it at that time? Nobody is going to trust her now.”
The CM also slammed the Akali Dal and said: “Akali Dal is in loss and loss situation, they have let people down, hence no one will trust them.”
“We will request Rahul Gandhi to join us in our protest, he is tweeting daily about the injustice done to the farmers, he should join us,” said Amarinder Singh.
The CM also stressed that everyone should put their political parties aside at this point of time. “All of us need to get together and take a stand for farmers and fight this menace of the central govt. We have to fight it out constitutionally,” he said, according to ANI.
Before Monday’s sit-in, Captain Amarinder Singh paid tribute to Bhagat Singh at his 'Samadhi Sthal' on his 113 birth anniversary at ancestral village of freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh – Khatkar Kalan.
Punjab Govt Exploring All Options: CMO
Taking to Twitter, the Punjab Chief Minister’s office on Sunday announced that the Punjab government is exploring all options, including possible amendments to state law to protect farmers’ interests.
Singh also termed Presidential assent to Farm Bills as ‘unfortunate and distressing’.
On Sunday, 27 September, Singh said that all farmer organisations and other stakeholders would be taken into confidence before taking any decision on the way forward.
He further added that the state government was committed to the procurement of every single grain of the farmers without compromising on the pricing. Punjab government was already in consultation with legal and agricultural experts, and all those impacted by the Central government's "calamitous" legislations, to decide on the future course of action, he said.
Amarinder Singh also reacted strongly to Akali chief Sukhbir Singh Badal's response to the Presidential assent, terming it a "cruel joke" on the farmers since it was the Shiromani Akali Dal's active support to the farm ordinances that had brought things to such a pass.
“Even now, after the farce of his party’s break-up with the NDA, all Sukhbir seemed concerned about was not the farmers’ plight but exploitation of the issue to boost the Akali prospects in the next Assembly polls,” he added.
Singh has also called for a ‘Kisan March’ that will begin on 1 October from the three Takhts, and head towards Mohali.
Resignation Focussed Attention on Farmers’ Issues: Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Meanwhile, SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday attended a meeting of party workers in city and addressed them. Speaking to ANI, she said that her resignation as a Union Minister over the farm bills had at least brought some attention to the issue of farmers.
“I didn't gain anything from my resignation, I've only lost. But it brought farmers' issues to the centre stage. Parliament session had to be cut short by a week due to nationwide protests against farm bills,” she said.
(With inputs from IANS, ANI and NDTV)
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