Farmers Movement Archive

Captain on NIA notices: Do farmers look like terrorists?

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday condemned NIA notices to several farm leaders and their supporters in the midst of the ongoing agitation against three contentious farm laws, describing the move as an “arm-twisting” tactic which would not weaken the resolve of farmers to fight for their rights and future. “Do these farmers look like secessionists and terrorists?” said Amarinder, slamming the BJP-led government at the Centre. He said the government was resorting to reprehensible and oppressive tactics in a desperation to undermine peacefully protesting farmers. But these measures, he said, will not succeed in destroying the resolve of farmers, rather the Centre will only end up provoking them into stronger reaction, he said. He said the Centre seemed to be bent upon pushing farmers over the edge through intimidatory actions. Amarinder said BJP’s most powerful minds would not be able to control the situation if things got irretrievably out of hand. Instead of resolving the crisis triggered by the draconian legislations, the BJP-led central government was resorting to victimisation and harassment of the protesting farmers, said the CM. He dubbed the notices as a regressive step, which would lead to farmers hardening their stance. “It is obvious the BJP-led NDA government neither cared for farmers and their concerns, nor understood their psyche. Punjabis are fighters by nature; they are imbued with the fighting spirit which makes them among the best warriors in the world,” he said, adding that the Centre’s coercive actions will only provoke the farmers from Punjab to react negatively. He again demanding the Centre to withdraw the laws and sit down across the table with all stakeholders, especially farmers, to usher in an era of genuine agricultural reforms.

The Times of India

2021-01-19

Chandigarh