Chandigarh : , Friday, November 19th, 2009: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Sing Channi hailed the Centre’s decision not to repeal three of its “black” agricultural laws as a welcomed step.Channi said that if Prime Minister NarendraModi had taken the decision earlier, many lives could have been saved.
He criticized the Centre for imposing these “black farm” laws arbitrarily upon farmers, without taking them in confidence.
Notably, farmers’ protests at the Delhi border and throughout the state have claimed hundreds of lives in an unimaginable struggle for their right to secure their livelihoods and the future of their children.
Channi stated that Lakhimpur Kheri, an incident which occurred during the struggle, has put a slur upon the fair name democracy.The people will not forgive the BJP government’s “misdeeds”.
He stated that when the Prime Minister announced the withdrawal of these “draconian farm laws”, he must compensate farmers for their humongous loss of property and life.
He also demanded compensation from the state for financial and other losses incurred during the Kisan Morcha.
However, he said that the state government had already offered government jobs to victims families and financial aid of Rs 5 lakh each to all the family members of deceased farmers who gave their lives for the cause of farm agitation.
Channi asked Channi to also ask the Prime Minister for a financial package that would immediately relieve the immense debt burden on farmers and workers.
He asked for clarity from the Centre regarding the minimum support price and the public procurement of crops by farmers.
The Chief Minister described it as “a victory for the people” and said that farmers had faced many hardships to overcome the Union government.
He stated that even though the Union government tried to intimidate, demotivate and humiliate the farmers, they continued to struggle in the spirit of great Gurus who taught them to resist injustice and oppression.
Channi stated that this is the result of the hard work and sacrifice of farmers.
It will also be recorded in the annals as history with golden words.
Channi stated that the Akali-BJP, Amarinder Singh and other “nexus”, tried to undermine the farm movement.
But in the end, it was victory over all evil.
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