Will call special session if farm laws not repealed: Punjab CM

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 28

Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday asked the Centre to immediately repeal the three farm laws or his government would convene a special session of the Vidhan Sabha to reject the “anti-farm” laws to safeguard the interest of farmers and farm labourers.

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Addressing mediapersons here, Channi said he had already asked then CM Capt Amarinder Singh to reject the laws but the Cabinet at the time authorised him to take the decision. He, however, chose to bring the amended Bills instead of rejecting the “draconian” farm legislations.

Urging the Centre to give due recognition to the border state for its unprecedented sacrifices to uphold nation’s integrity and sovereignty, Channi said the Centre should not try to foment trouble in the state. Instead, it should sincerely resolve the ongoing crisis at the earliest in the larger interest of the country.

Reiterating his commitment to stand by farmers and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha in this “hour of crisis”, the CM said he would even lead a march to Delhi either by foot or on a bicycle to support their cause if the Centre didn’t repeal the laws.

Expressing solidarity with farmers, he said the laws would perish the state’s peasantry as beleaguered farmers were already reeling under debt to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore. The Centre should come forward to bail them out of this financial crisis.

He, however, said the state had already provided relief up to Rs 2 lakh to small and marginal farmers, while farm labourers were being extended relief to the tune of Rs 25,000 with little resources it had.