I’m a democrat, will implement new agriculture policy after discussing it with all: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today defended his party’s government on the last day of the Vidhan Sabha session on all issues raised by his political opponents in the House and the farmer unions outside the House. He spoke on the delay in rolling out the agriculture policy that he claimed would usher in economic revolution in the agrarian economy, delay in holding the panchayat elections or the accusations regarding his government dilly-dallying on investigation in sacrilege cases.

The Congress leaders chose to remain silent throughout Mann’s speech, apparently under the shadow of a possible alliance between their party with AAP in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections.

Mann, who is also the Leader of the House, chose to speak for his government and its stand on various burning issues in the midst of some Bills being presented by his ministers. His address to the House was not listed in the day’s List of Business.

While Mann has been under the Opposition fire for the delay in holding urban and rural civic poll and delaying prosecution sanction against some accused in the sacrilege cases of 2015, the farmer unions also have been on the warpath, with members of the largest farmer union in the state, BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), protesting in the state capital here over the government not rolling out the draft agriculture policy. Thirty other farmer unions, all constituents of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, had also held a mahapanchayat here on Monday, where they accused the CM of being “blissfully unaware” of the impending crisis because of a perceived shortage of DAP.

Defending his government, Mann said the draft of the agriculture policy was ready, but he would like to discuss it with all stakeholders. “That is how I work. I want all stakeholders to thrash out the issues, and then implement a policy acceptable to all. Unlike what the BJP did in 2020, by bringing the three farm laws at the behest of some bureaucrats, I want to take everyone along,” he said.

Addressing suspended Congress MLA Sandeep Jakhar, he said, “Your chacha (referring to Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar) speaks about how Punjab is heading towards a DAP crisis, without knowing that I am the one who has been initiating dialogue with Union Minister JP Nadda to ensure adequate supply of the fertiliser to Punjab.” NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal chipped in, saying DAP had started landing in the state after the Centre’s assurance over it last week.

The CM said his government would hold civic bodies elections after the Haryana Vidhan Sabha poll. Hitting out at the Congress, he said, “Unlike what your government did, when they would reject our party candidates’ nomination papers, we will hold free and fair elections. We are changing the rules and elections will be held without the candidates using party symbols. They can, however, use the pictures of their leaders on their posters.”

4 key Bills passed

• The Punjab Goods and Service Tax (Amendment) Bill: Excludes extra neutral alcohol used for manufacturing liquor for human consumption from the GST purview
• The Punjab Fire and Emergency Service Bill: Changes physical test norms for selection of women in the Fire Safety Department
• The Punjab Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill: No panch or sarpanch can contest the panchayat elections on party symbols
• The Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill: Grants extension for reconstitution of 94 market committees