Farmers Movement Archive

All-party meet demands repeal of farm laws

Amid boycott by the BJP and walkout by AAP leaders, the all-party meeting led by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday demanded immediate withdrawal of the three central farm laws.It also condemned the “sponsored” violence in Delhi and decided that an all-party delegation will go to Delhi to meet PM Narendra Modi over the farmers’ stir.Seeks judicial probe into R-Day violencejudicial inquiry into ‘sponsored’ violence in Delhi and Red Fort incidentIt also demanded the withdrawal of police cases and release of those jailedExpressing concern over fortification at the Singhu, Tikri and Gazipur borders and the use of force to suppress the farmers stir, the meeting sought a united intervention by political parties from the state to resolve the crisis.Praising the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti of 40 farmer unions, including 32 from Punjab, in showing exemplary resilience in their struggle, the meeting called for the withdrawal of all cases registered against farmers, journalists and other peaceful agitators, and release of all those detained by the police or any other agencies.However, AAP leaders led by Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema staged a walkout after they failed to get a time-bound commitment from the Chief Minister on meeting the Prime Minister or staging an all-party dharna outside his residence. State AAP chief Bhagwant Mann said instead of passing a resolution in Chandigarh, the CM should camp in Delhi. “Despite passing resolution to meet the Prime Minister in all- party meeting held in June last year, the CM has not fulfilled his commitment. We are ready to help the CM, if he leads an all-party delegation in Delhi,” Mann said.The CM, however, told the leaders that despite efforts, the appointment to meet the President and the Prime Minister did not come through.Terming the AAP’s demand to deploy the Punjab Police personnel to protect farmers at Delhi borders unconstitutional, he said: “We talk about more federal powers for the states, then how can we do this?What will you do if Himachal Pradesh and Haryana Police come to Punjab?”PPCC president Sunil Jakhar hit out at the Centre over the situation prevailing at the Delhi borders. “What happened at the Red Fort was condemnable and must be investigated properly,” he said.SAD leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra and Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal was of the opinion that an independent commission should be set up, under a retired judge, to expose the entire conspiracy behind the Red Fort incident.Simranjit Singh Bains (Lok Insaaf Party), Sukhpal Singh Khaira (Punjab Ekta Party), Jasvir Singh Garhi (BSP), Bant Singh (CPI) and Sukhwinder Singh (CPM) also spoke on the occasion.

The Tribune

2021-02-03

Chandigarh