Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh urges Amit Shah to repeal farm laws

CHANDIGARH: Underlining the implications of a prolonged farmers’ agitation, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday pressed Union home minister Amit Shah for immediate repeal of farm laws, which, he said, had caused great resentment among farmers from Punjab and other states. Expressing concern over inimical powers from across the border trying to exploit the ituation, the CM sought an “enduring and expeditious” solution to the farmers’ concerns. Amarinder said protests have been going on in Punjab ever since the Centre issued the ordinances in June 2020. “While these protests have been largely peaceful, one can sense rising tempers, especially as the state moves towards elections in early 2022,” he said. The prolonged agitation is not only impacting economic activities in Punjab, but has the potential to affect its social fabric, especially when political parties and groups take strong positions, he added. Citing reports, the CM said more than 400 farmers and farm workers had laid their lives since the agitation shifted to Delhi borders. He recalled he had even earlier sought appointment from Shah to meet with an all-party delegation from Punjab. Amarinder also flagged the urgent need to compensate farmers for the management of paddy straw at Rs 100 per quintal and to address the growing fear of shortage of DAP. He urged Shah to advise officials of the fertilizers department for enhanced allocation of DAP stocks to Punjab as per the revised demand by the state and to direct suppliers to ensure adequate supplies. Pointing to recent increase in the cost of phosphatic fertilizers subsumed by the Centre into the subsidy only till October 31, 2021, the CM said the firming up of DAP prices in the international market and uncertainty about the extent of subsidy were contributing immensely to an apprehension of a likely shortfall of DAP in the ensuing Rabi season. As a result of difficulties being faced by Markfed to arrange DAP supplies through tendering, the state government has requested the department of fertilizers to make an additional allocation of at least 3.5 lakh MTs of DAP on a priority basis till October, and another 1.5 lakh MTs of DAP up to November 15, 2021, so as to ensure timely availability of DAP for sowing of wheat in the state, he informed Shah.

The Times of India

2021-08-11

Chandigarh