Reacting strongly to the Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh’s “bizarre” response on the farmers’ ongoing agitation, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday said that it showed the complete lack of concern on the part of the Central Government to the problems of the common people, particularly the farming community.
“It was not the protest which is bizarre but the Minister’s statement,” said Capt Amarinder adding that a Minister who did not connect with the farmers’ woes had no business holding the portfolio.
Dubbing the Minister’s reaction as “highly shocking and shameful”, Capt Amarinder said that while the farmers were resorting to extreme steps out of sheer desperation and masses were reeling under the impact of spiraling prices of essentials, Radha Mohan clearly had no qualms about showing his lack of sensitivity to their problems.
When a Minister entrusted with the farmers’ welfare cannot relate to their problems, and was totally unconcerned about their plight, one could well imagine which way the country was headed, said Capt Amarinder, demanding the Minister’s immediate dismissal.
The Chief Minister lashed out at the Central Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for its complete apathy to the problems of the distressed farmers, many of whom were committing suicide, around the country.
When the farmers, who feed the nation, are forced to resort to such extreme steps, including taking to the streets to draw attention to their pitiable condition, then it does not augur well for the country, said Capt Amarinder.
Expressing himself to be in total sympathy with the protesting farmers, the Chief Minister asked what else could they be expected to do when their and their families’ survival was at stake. “The farmers are suffering as a result of the Central Government’s failure to waive off their debts, which many state governments, including Punjab, have been repeatedly seeking, and also to give them the due price for their produce,” he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated his demand for in toto implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report to ensure fair and remunerative crop prices for the farmers, to enable them to meet both ends.
On the issue of farm debt waiver, Capt Amarinder said that if a bankrupt state like Punjab could do its bit for loan waiver, why could the Central Government not come up with a waiver schemeIJ
“Quite clearly, the Centre lacked the will and the intent to come to the rescue of the beleaguered farmers…The Modi government seemed to be only interested in appeasing and helping the rich industrialists who are fleeing the country of its resources and finances. The poor are nowhere on their priority agenda,” he said.