Urging the Central Government to consider all martyred 162 farmers for ex-gratia benefits, the Punjab Cultural Council (PCC) on Sunday written to the Union Agricultural Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to repeal “black” farm laws forthwith thereby according due honour to the ‘anndatas’ who have given their prime for ensuring food security for the nation.
Besides, the Council has also asked the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to give personal intervention, thereby helping the farmers at the Delhi borders with proactive support.
Council chairman Harjeet Singh Grewal and vice-chairman Tejinderpal Singh Nalwa, in the letter, said that Punjab, Haryana.
Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have already lost 149 precious lives during protests at Delhi borders since November 25 against the Centre’s shameful arrogance and callousness attitude.
“In addition to this, 13 farmers have sacrificed their lives in Punjab during rail roko stir since September 2019…This is unacceptable as any loss of life is gross injustice to our farmers who are toiling hard for the nation besides providing jobs to the farm labour,” they said.
Underlining Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and West Bengal Chief Minister’s strong and clear-cut stand against these contentious legislations, the Council has sought personal intervention of the Union Minister Tomar towards ensuring these affected families with all support as their breadwinners have sacrificed their lives while struggling at Delhi borders in very adverse conditions.
The Council has also submitted a list of all deceased farmers to the Union Minister to provide active assistance and cooperation to the bereaved families in every way possible in greater spirit of our gratitude towards our anndatas.
The Council has also hailed the announcement of Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh to provide jobs for a member of each family who have lost their members during the stir against central legislations. “Farmers are sitting at Delhi borders not for themselves but for future generations and the common man,” said the Council leaders.
Giving details, Grewal said that the unfortunate tally includes 22 farmers belonging to Sangrur district, 14 each from Mansa and Patiala, nine from Barnala, eight each from Bathinda and Ludhiana, seven each from Sri Fatehgarh Sahib and Fazilka, six each from Sri Mukatsar Sahib and Amritsar, five each from Moga, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur and SBS Nagar, three each from Mohali, Rupnagar, Gurdaspur and Jalandhar besides two farmer residents of Tarn Taran district.
In addition to this, nine farmers have sacrificed their lives from Haryana, three from Uttar Pradesh, and one from Madhya Pradesh.