Farmers Movement Archive

Will move apex court if President doesn’t give assent to Punjab Bills: Amarinder

Chandigarh: Making it clear that his government was totally opposed to the Centre’s farm laws, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged the Union government to shed its ego and immediately scrap the legislations and bring in new laws after fresh discussions on the issue with the farmers. “We will go to the Supreme Court if the President does not given assent to the state amendment Bills”, which unfortunately the governor is still sitting on instead of forwarding them for presidential approval, even though the legislative assembly had unanimously passed the bills, with all parties voting for them. He said it was tragic that the Akalis and AAP later started playing political games on the issue. Addressing media persons on the completion of four years of his government, Capt Amarinder said he could not see any middle path to break the stalemate between the farmers and the Centre. “What’s the use of making it a prestige issue?,” he remarked, asking the Centre, “How many more farmers do you want to kill (with your adamant stand)?” On the governor still sitting on the state Bills, the chief minister asked, “Are we a democracy or not?” Punjab took a unanimous decision and the governor had no business to sit on the files, which it was his duty to forward to President for assent under Article 254 (2) of the Constitution. Meanwhile, promising to fulfil all the 2017 poll commitments before the 2022 assembly elections early next year, Amarinder said the Congress in Punjab has no rival, as neither the Akalis nor the AAP offer any competition. More than 85% manifesto promises had already been implemented, he said, adding that it was a record for any party in any state, and the previous record was held by Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh (for 81% promises fulfilled). BOX Won’t let peace to be disturbed Taking note of the perceptible increase in drone movement from across the border since the farmers’ protests started gathering heat in October 2020, the CM declared that “as long as I am here, no Khalistani or Pakistani or any other terrorist activity will be allowed to disturb the peace of the state.” BOX Against reservation for locals Responding to a question on reservation in jobs for local youth, as recently announced by neighbouring Haryana, which has reserved 75% of jobs for locals in private sector, Amarinder said, “I believe that India is one country and too much regionalisation is not a good thing.” Pointing out that there was no state in India where Punjabis were not flourishing and doing a great job, he said, “If we start regionalising, we will suffer.” BOX First to oppose EVMs Regarding electronic voting machines (EVMs) versus paper ballots, Amarinder said he was among the first to oppose them as they can be fudged, which he had even proved to the Election Commission at one time. He pointed out that advanced countries like Japan, Sweden and the UK were not using EVMs. The issue of EVMs was raised by a section of MLAs during the budget session of the Punjab assembly. BOX Sacrilege case: Won’t interfere with SIT The chief minister said the SIT probing sacrilege cases would soon complete its investigation and he will not interfere if they decide to challan any senior police officers or politicians. This follows SIT chief IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh recently saying that the final supplementary challan in the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing cases would be filed in Faridkot court soon. “The CBI had been deliberately delaying the matter but now the Punjab Police had received the files in the cases, and everything was under control,” he said. BOX Claim on drugs twisted Listing out the achievements of his government, Amarinder said his government had successfully broken the backbone of the drug supply chain, which is what he had pledged to do with Gutka Sahib in his hands. Contrary to what was being wrongly claimed in the media, he clarified that he had never said he would eliminate the drugs mafia completely. “I had clearly said – main nasheyan di lak todanga (I will break the back of drug trade),” he said. BOX Lost 15kg in 7 months In a lighter vein, Capt Amarinder said he had lost 15 kilograms in seven months and he was acting under advice from a dietician from Delhi. “I will lose another 10kgs,” he said. BOX On Mukhtiar Ansari In response to a question regarding criminal cases against gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who is currently lodged in a Punjab jail and whose custody is sought by Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister said the matter was sub judice. But if Ansari has committed a crime in Punjab, he will have to pay the price for it, he added.

The Times of India

2021-03-19

Chandigarh