Cabinet again calls for scrapping of agri laws

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 14

The Punjab Cabinet in its meeting on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution calling upon the Narendra Modi-led BJP government to repeal the central farm laws, reiterating that nothing less than taking back the legislations would resolve the present crisis.

Amid strong voices of the Council of Ministers to send across a strong message to the Union Government, the meeting led by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh passed a formal resolution stating: “There was a need for a broad-based dialogue and proper consultation with all stakeholders as these legislations impact the future of millions of farmers across the country”.

The Cabinet categorically reiterated its commitment to the resolutions passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on August 28, 2020 and October 20, 2020, stressing that all genuine demands of the farmers must be accepted. Urging the Government of India to “repeal the farm laws as agriculture is a state subject under the Constitution, and to make MSP a statutory right”. It welcomed the Supreme Court order staying the central legislations as acknowledgement of the concerns of the farmers of Punjab who are protesting against the farm laws, and recognition of their pain and anguish.

The ministers also demanded that the Centre should make MSP a statutory right of the farmers, who have been getting low prices for their produce despite being responsible for feeding the nation.

The Council of Ministers, after detailed discussion, took note of the Supreme Court order of January 12 staying the implementation of three farm legislations. It pointed out that even the Supreme Court had acknowledged the concerns of the protesting farmers and recognised their pain and anguish. The Council of Ministers said the Government of India should not make it a prestige issue. If the matter remained unresolved, it might lead to devastating repercussions for the country for decades to come. If the Centre could make sweeping amendments to the laws then this adamancy about not revoking the legislations was inexplicable, said the ministers, joined by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunil Jakhar.

At the start of the meeting, the Council of Ministers observed a 2-minute silence in the memory of farmers who have died during the agitation. An estimated 78 farmers have so far lost their lives. Stressing the need for an early resolution to the agitation to prevent further loss of life, the Cabinet pointed out that the matter has already been debated and discussed in eight rounds of negotiations held between the farmers and the Government of India.