Scrap laws, resume talks: Punjab CM Capt Amarindr Singh to Centre

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 17

As farmers protested to mark the one year of the passage of three contentious agricultural laws on Friday, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh demanded immediate scrapping of the Acts and a detailed discussion with farmers to find a way forward.

Amend Constitution

To date, the Constitution has been amended as many as 127 times. Why can’t it be amended once again to scrap the farm laws and resolve the imbroglio resulting from them? What is the problem in doing it a 128th time? — Capt Amarinder Singh, CM

Pointing out that many farmers have died in the prolonged stir, the Chief Minister said it was high time the central government withdrew the legislations in the interest of the farmers and the nation.

The Chief Minister, wearing a “no farmers no food” badge, inaugurated the third state-level virtual kisan mela organised by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. The two-day mela is centered on the theme “Karie Parali Di Sambhal, Dharti Maa Hove Khushhal”, in line with the state government’s focus on eliminating stubble burning.

“To date, the Constitution has been amended as many as 127 times. Why can it not be amended once again to scrap the farm laws and resolve the imbroglio resulting from them? What is the problem in doing it a 128th time,” asked the Chief Minister.

Recalling that he had been asked by the Centre to stop Punjab’s farmers from going to Delhi last November, the Chief Minister said he had refused point blank to do so, as the protest was the democratic right of farmers. “Why should they not protest? How can I stop them?” he asked, making it clear that he continues to stand by farmers in their fight against the farm Acts, with his government continuing to give compensation and jobs to the families of the deceased farmers.