MY STATEMENT ON FARM LAWS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT: CAPT
CHANDIGARH : Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday said his statement on the extension of the Centre’s agriculture laws was taken out of context and that it was in reference to the feedback received on the issue from certain farmer unions.
Also, the CM ruled out mediation unless sought.
“The statement was presented as my personal suggestion for a compromise. Instead of being seen in the context of my full statement, a particular point on the 24-month suspension of the farm laws was shown as a separate communication,” he claimed in a press statement.
An early resolution, he added, was critical to security in Punjab which has witnessed a surge in smuggling of weapons from across the border in the past 5-6 months.
“My government continues to stand with the farmers. Even in my speech submitted to the Niti Aayog for circulation at Saturday’s meeting categorically underscored the need for an urgent resolution of the ongoing agitation,” he said.
Amarinder expressed surprise at Niti Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar’s claim that no one spoke about the farm laws in the sixth governing council meeting on Saturday.
“Though I could not attend the virtual conference , my speech was submitted on Thursday clearly highlighted the issue. I have reiterated our government’s stand that agriculture is a state subject and legislating on it should be left to the states in the spirit of cooperative federalism,” the CM said. The stance of the Punjab government has been consistent all this while at every forum and the state amendment Bills passed were an endorsement of the same, he said.