Terming the Centre’s proposal on direct payment to the farmers, bypassing the arhtiyas (commission agents), as another provocation that will further aggravate the current crisis over the farm laws, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday said that the apathetic attitude of the Central Government would not help resolve the situation.
The matter had to be resolved by the Centre and the farmers, with the Punjab Government having no role to play as the farmers’ associations had categorically rejected any political interference, said the Chief Minister, speaking to mediapersons after the budget presentation.
“Instead of amicably resolving the farmers’ issue, the Central Government is fuelling further angst among them,” said the Chief Minister, adding that by seeking land record for making e-payment to the farmers directly from the FCI, the situation would worsen.
He said: “Punjab had a time-tested system in place in 1967, with farmers getting paid through the arhtiyas with whom they have excellent relations and on whom they could depend for financial support in times of adversity…How can farmers rely on corporate houses like the Ambanis and the Adanis in times of crisis.”
PREZ’S REFUSAL TO STATE’S AMENDMENT BILL WILL OPEN DOORS FOR LEGAL RECOURSE
Responding to a query, the Chief Minister said that the Governor should immediately decide and forward the state’s amendment Bills against the Farm Laws to the President. “If the President accepts it’s good and if he refuses, it will open the doors for us for legal recourse,” he added.
HOPE WE’RE ABLE TO CONTROL COVID SITUATION
On a query regarding the imposition of lockdown due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, the Chief Minister said, “I cannot say right now, but I hope we are able to control it.” At the same time, he asked the people to strictly follow safety norms as a precautionary measure. Asked to comment about post-vaccination effects, the Chief Minister said he was absolutely fine.
AICC PREZ TO DECIDE UNDER WHOSE LEADERSHIP TO CONTEST 2022 POLLS
Asked to comment whether the next state assembly elections for 2022 would be led under his leadership, the Chief Minister said the decision was the sole prerogative of AICC President Sonia Gandhi. On the statement of Manpreet Singh Badal that he won’t be the next Finance Minister if Congress comes to power in the 2022 assembly elections, the Chief Minister, in a lighter vein, said that “this is to be decided by the party not him.”