PUNJAB PARTIES FAIL TO PUT UP UNITED FACE
AAP stages walkout over demand for deployment of Punjab Police to protect the farmers protesting at Delhi borders
Punjab political parties failed to put up a united face at an all-party meeting convened by CM Capt Amarinder Singh to find a forward to support the fight being waged by farmers against the three agriculture laws enacted by the Centre. The meeting passed a resolution seeking immediate withdrawal of farm laws amid a walkout by AAP leaders. The BJP skipped the meeting.
CHANDIGARH: Punjab political parties failed to put up a united face at an all-party meeting convened by chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to evolve a consensus on the way forward to support the fight being waged by farmers against the three agriculture marketing laws enacted by the Centre.
The all-party meeting attended by most parties, except the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), passed a resolution seeking immediate withdrawal of farm laws and statutory minimum support price (MSP) for crops amid a walk out by leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the principal opposition party in the state. The parties also decided to send a delegation to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the farmers’ stir.
Though the AAP voiced its support for withdrawal of the contentious laws, the party leaders demanded a “concrete plan” for a dharna (sit-in) outside the PM’s residence in case the state delegation is not given time to meet and deployment of Punjab Police to protect the farmers protesting at Delhi’s borders. Amarinder rejected the demand for Punjab Police security for the protesters, telling the AAP leaders that their chief minister in Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal) can request the Union home minister
to provide security there. “We cannot do it as it is not possible constitutionally,” the CM told them. The AAP leaders then walked out of the meeting.
AAP MLA and leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said they walked out as their demands were not included in the resolution. The Congress, SAD, Lok Insaaf Party, SAD (Democratic), BSP, CPI and CPI (M) participated in the meeting, whereas, the BJP, which in power at the Centre, boycotted it.
The second all-party meeting, called by the CM in view of the Republic Day violence, the Singhu border attack on farmers and the massive vilification campaign against them, demanded an appropriate judicial inquiry to investigate the laxity and complicity of those responsible for maintaining order at the Red Fort. The resolution condemned the attempts by some miscreants to “sabotage” the agitation, stating that these should not be the reason to victimise the agitating farmers, farm workers and others including, mediapersons.
It also urged the Central government to withdraw all cases registered against the farmers, farm workers, journalists and release all those detained by the police or any other agencies. The resolution also lauded BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, and thanked Haryana farmers for their support to Punjab’s farmers in the agitation.
The meeting, which began with a two-minute silence in remembrance of those who died during the stir, also saw a host of suggestions from participants, ranging from appointment of a state observer at Delhi borders to joining the protest without making a political statement.
Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar termed BJP’s decision to skip the meeting as “unfortunate”. AAP MP Bhagwant Mann suggested representatives of all Punjab parties should jointly meet the PM and his home minister to put pressure on them. SAD leader Prem Singh Chandumajra was of the opinion that an independent commission should be set up, under a retired judge, to expose the entire conspiracy behind the Red Fort violence.
Capt to AAP: Can’t you rise above petty politics
The CM slammed the AAP over its leaders’ walkout from the allparty meeting on the farmers’ stir. He said this had once again exposed the double standards of Arvind Kejriwal’s party, which continued to put its vested political interests above those of the farmers. “After pretending for hours that they were with the rest of Punjab in supporting the farmers, AAP walked out over a demand which no state government can accept,” he said.