Underlining that the farmers’ agitation is affecting Punjab’s economy and the nation’s security, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday made an appeal to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the protesting farmers to find an early resolution to the impasse over the new farm laws.
Capt Amarinder, who met Shah at his residence on the day of the farmers’ scheduled meeting with the Centre, said that a common ground must be found soon and the two sides should not take rigid positions on the matter.
He has urged the Centre to “rethink its stand” on the legislations while appealing to the farmers to find an early solution to the problem that was adversely impacting the state’s economy and also posed a serious danger to national security.
The problem needs to be solved quickly, the Chief Minister stressed during a crucial meeting here with the Union Home Minister, whom he urged to ensure that the Central Government addresses the concerns of the farmers.
“I came to meet the Home Minister to reiterate our position and to make a request to him and the farmers to resolve this soon because this (agitation) affects the economy of my Punjab as well as the security of the nation,” said Capt Amarinder after the meeting.
Asked if he was trying to mediate between the agitating farmers and the Central Government, Capt Amarinder said that a discussion is going on between the two sides. “It is for them to resolve…We have reiterated Punjab’s position,” he said.
“I and my Government are not involved in mediation in any way and the matter has to be resolved between the Centre and the farmers, an early resolution is vital in the interest of both Punjab and the country,” said the Chief Minister.
Stressing the need to protect MSP (minimum support price) and continue with the APMC based Mandi system, the Chief Minister urged Shah to listen to the farmers with an open mind to resolve the standoff quickly so that farmers from Punjab and other states, including a large number of women, can return to their homes.
A solution has to be found at the earliest, he said, adding that he had come to meet the Union Home Minister to reiterate Punjab’s stand on the imbroglio between the farmers and the Central Government, as well as the need to secure the future of the farming community and agriculture.
The meeting was held simultaneously with the interaction between the agitating farmer leaders and the Government at Vigyan Bhawan.
It has been learnt that the meeting which was slated in the morning was delayed by over two hours and started around noon.
Notably, the Chief Minister and the Congress party have been supporting the farmers’ stir and Punjab State Assembly had also passed a set of bills aimed at negating the Centre’s farm legislation.
Capt Amarinder had earlier said that he and his Government were willing to mediate in the talks between the Centre and the farmers in the collective interest of all.
The protesting farmers, a large number of whom are from Punjab, have been holding sit-ins on the borders of the national capital.
They are demanding that the Government withdraw the new farm laws if it wants them to end their stir.