Amarinder calls all-party meet to show unity for agitating ryots

Alleging that farmers from Punjab are being beaten up by police and assaulted by goons at their protest site on Delhi borders, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh called an all-party meeting on Tuesday to show unity and evolve a consensus on the way forward on the three contentious Central farm laws.

The meeting will be held at 11 am at Punjab Bhawan, according to a government statement issued on Sunday. “This is not the time to stand on ego but to come together to save our state and our people,” the Chief Minister told the parties.

As per the government statement, the meeting will discuss the situation arising out of the recent developments in the ongoing farmers’ agitation in Delhi, especially in view of the Republic Day violence, ‘the Singhu border attack on farmers, and the massive vilification campaign against them’.

Singh urged all parties to join the meeting in a spirit of unity, in support of the farmers and in the interest of Punjab.

The Chief Minister said the ‘crisis’ triggered by the farm laws was a matter of concern for the entire state and its people.

“Only through collective efforts of all Punjabis, and all the political parties of the state, can the crisis be tackled effectively and the farmers’ interests be protected,” he said. With a large number of farmers from Punjab at the receiving end of this battering, he said, it was imperative for all parties of the state to come together to evolve a cohesive strategy on the issue.