Farmers Movement Archive

Days after Samyukt Kisan Morcha meet, Navjot Singh Sidhu wants FIRs dropped

Chandigarh, September 12Two days after a Punjab Congress delegation led by Navjot Singh Sidhu met representatives of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), comprising 32 farmer organisations, the PCC chief has sought cancellation of the remaining FIRs registered against the farm unions for violence during the agitation, besides opposing the Centre’s demand for land record prior to procurements and seeking a way forward in crop diversification.Also read: Morcha diktat on party events win-win for Capt Amarinder SinghCrowds at Singhu, Tikri thinning as protesting farmers head home ahead of harvesting seasonFarmers gherao BJP office in JalandharKarnal victory shot in arm for morcha: BKUNavjot Sidhu to CM Set up mechanismThe government could set up a mechanism to consider each case on compassionate grounds and cancel all such unfair cases.Flagging the demands raised by the unions, Sidhu in a letter to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the party and state government had supported the farmers’ agitation against the three central farm laws, yet some FIRs had been registered against unions for violence during the protests.“The government could set up a mechanism to consider each case on compassionate grounds and cancel all such unfair cases,” he said.Raising another concern of the farmers, the PCC chief said they feared the demand for land records to demarcate details of land ownership before procurement as ordered by the Central Government was unjust.A large number of farmers was sowing crops by taking land on lease. “This is also an attack on the resilient system of procurement by minimum support price (MSP) through arthiyas and an attempt to push the farmers away from APMC mandis towards private markets,” he stressed.In a tactical change in approach, the PCC chief, instead of taking on his own government, praised the state government for allocating 10.9 per cent of its Budget expenditure for agriculture in 2021-22, much higher than the average allocation by other states at 6.3 per cent.While praising the waiver of Rs 5,810 crore loan of farmers and Rs 520 crore of farm labour and landless farmers, besides seamless procurement, Sidhu said: “We must do more, standing firmer on our resolution passed in Vidhan Sabha in October 2020 against the three farm laws.”Seeking an in increase in state farmers’ income, beginning with procurement of pulses and oilseeds through state corporations, the PCC chief stressed the need for investment in diversification by giving MSP on more crops, augmenting storage capacity of farmers and strengthening their financial capabilities through cooperatives and forward linkages to trade without dependence on corporates.Make PCC chief CM face: Amargarh MLAAmargarh MLA Surjit Singh Dhiman has said the party should make Navjot Singh Sidhu its chief ministerial face. Dhiman has been siding with the rebel ministers on the issue of replacing the Chief Minister. He said he would not contest the Assembly elections if they were fought under Capt Amarinder Singh.Give MSP on more cropsThe PCC chief sought a way forward in crop diversification by giving MSP on more crops, augmenting storage capacity of farmers and strengthening their financial capabilities through cooperatives.

The Tribune

2021-09-13