AAP TO JOIN SEPT 22 FARMER PROTEST
SANGRUR: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state unit president Bhagwant Mann said on Tuesday that they would join the September 22 protest of farmers, wherein unions plan to march to chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s house in Patiala to underline how the state government has not kept its promises, including that of debt waiver. Already, police have cracked down on the prospective protesters and issued prohibitory orders against assembly of people in Patiala.
“After six months, Amarinder Singh has failed to even appoint a full-time agriculture minister in a state where farmers are committing suicide daily,” said Mann who, being the Lok Sabha member from Sangrur, was here to chair a meeting of the district development, coordination and monitoring committee.
Saying that the Congress government has disappointed farmers on the debt waiver promise, he added, “The chief minister has not visited Punjab six times in the six months of Congress’ being in power. He has taken charge of several ministries himself, but has not appointed an agriculture or even a sports minister. The government is being run by bureaucrats.”
“During poll campaign, Amarinder said he would not tolerate even one farmer’s death; but suicides are taking place regularly. Some farmers have named him in suicide notes. Now, when farmers plan to hold protest outside his residence, he is sending them to jail. To protest is a right, and we will also join the farmers.” HTC