Ready to step down than bow to injustice: Punjab CM
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 20
Asserting that he was prepared to resign or be dismissed rather than bow to injustice towards Punjab’s farmers, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today warned of possible disruption of the state’s peace and
threat to national security as a result of the farm laws. He stressed nobody could tolerate the attack on religious ethos and livelihood.
‘End rail roko, let goods move’
I appeal to farmers to end the ‘rail roko’ agitation and allow the movement of essential commodities… the state is going through tough times, with power generation at a precarious low, no urea for fertilisers and no space in godown for fresh paddy arrivals.
“I am not afraid of resigning. I am not afraid of my government being dismissed. But I will not let the farmers suffer or be ruined,” said the Chief Minister, pointing out that he had chosen to quit at the time of Operation Bluestar instead of accepting or endorsing the assault on Sikh ethos.
Cautioning the Centre, the CM said if the farm laws were not revoked, angry youth could come out on the streets to join the farmers, leading to chaos. The situation had the potential to disturb the peaceful atmosphere, he warned, observing that this is what had happened in the 1980s and 90s. Both China and Pakistan would collude to take advantage of any disruption of the state’s peace, he stressed.
Reiterating his full support to the protesting farmers, the CM appealed to them to end the ‘rail roko’ agitation and lift blockades and allow the movement of essential commodities.
“We have stood with you, now it is your turn to stand with us,” he appealed to the farmers, adding that the entire House was with them but the state was going through tough times, with power generation at a precarious low, no urea for fertilisers and no space in godown for fresh paddy arrivals.
The CM was speaking in the Vidhan Sabha while presenting the four Bills to negate the Central farm laws on the second day of the special session of the House. He made it clear that his government would not allow the state’s farming community and agriculture, which were the backbone of growth and development, to be ruined by the BJP through ‘devious plans’. — TNS
