Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab Congress MPs meet Shah, urge him to start goods train services to state

NEW DELHI: Congress MPs from Punjab met home minister Amit Shah to lobby for restoration of goods trains to the state while urging him to initiate talks with protesting farmers on the controversial farm laws. Among the issues raised by the group of eight Lok Sabha MPs were running goods trains to Punjab, payment of GST compensation to the state and the farm laws. According to a senior Congress MP, Shah agreed to the need for talks and indicated that he may discuss the issue with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. There is a possibility of creation of a panel of Union ministers to hold talks on the contentious issue. The MPs impressed upon Shah that the farmers had to be spoken to and that not listening to the protesting groups may create further complications. They argued that a panel of senior ministers could be formed for discussions. What seems to have created complications is that farmers are willing to clear the passage for goods trains while saying that passenger trains may be allowed later. But the Centre is not ready for such a piecemeal resolution. The MPs said that “a way out has to be found”. The Punjab government, meanwhile, is under pressure to ensure urea supplies to farmers, which have been affected by the blockade. With non-payment of GST compensation and shortage of fertiliser and coal, a member argued that it was giving the impression of economic isolation of Punjab. Among the MPs who met the home minister were Parneet Kaur, Amar Singh, Ravneet Bittu, Manish Tiwari and Gurjeet Aujla. The MPs had also met railway minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday.

The Times of India

2020-11-08

India