Taking the fight of Punjab farmers to Delhi and to highlight the crisis of supplies in the state due to suspension of goods trains, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday, 4 November led a "relay dharna' by Congress MPs and MLAs at Jantar Mantar to highlight “Centre’s step-motherly” treatment towards Punjab.
“I have made it clear that the Centre’s attitude towards our farmers and undermining the state’s rights is not correct. As the chief minister, it is my duty to protect the rights of my state and my people,” he said.
Earlier, he, along with Congress MPs, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat whereas the party MLAs walked to Jantar Mantar from the Punjab Bhavan.
“Mahatma Gandhi’s ideal of persistent struggle in the face of opposition is our guiding light. We will fight to uphold Punjab’s right to dignity and respect,” the chief minister asserted.
He said that goods trains to and from Punjab should be resumed and presidential assent given to farm amendment Bills passed by the Punjab Assembly, reported IANS.
Lok Insaaf Party legislator Simranjit Singh Bains, as well as Punjabi Ekta Party MLAs Sukhpal Khaira and Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic) MLA Parminder Singh Dhindsa participated in the protest, news agency PTI reported.
Amarinder Singh stated that the Aam Aadmi Party had been “pressured” not to join the dharna as its government in Delhi had not passed amendment bills to protect the farmers.
President Kovind Declines Meet Over Farm Laws
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday, 3 November, announced that he will lead a 'dharna' after President Kovind refused to meet the CM over centre enacted farm laws.
Punjab CM had run out of coal, urea and DAP and other essential supplies due to Railways decision not to ply goods trains even after the farmers eased their blockade to allow such movement.
After the Vidhan Sabha session, in which all parties had unanimously resolved to seek time from the President for a meeting on 4 November (or any other suitable date) to seek his intervention on the farm laws issue, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) had, on 21 October, sent a letter to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to request a meeting.
A reminder was subsequently sent on 29 October, in response to which the CMO received a demi official letter on Monday, rejecting the request for the meeting on the ground that the state's amendment Bills were still pending with the Governor for consideration.
Subsequently, the CMO sent another letter on Monday itself, stating that the Chief Minister and other MLAs needed time to bring to the President's notice the situation on the ground and to seek his intervention for resolution of the issues that have cropped up.
However, the President's Office responded that "the request cannot be accepted at this juncture for reasons cited earlier".
(This article has been published in arrangement with IANS)
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