Farm unions support CM’s stance against central ordinances

UNION LEADERS TERM THE ORDINANCES AS ANTI-FARMER BESIDES BEING A DIRECT ATTACK ON THE FEDERAL FABRIC OF THE COUNTRY

CHANDIGARH : Supporting chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s call to send a strong message to the Centre on the agricultural ordinances and the proposed amendments to the Electricity Amendment Act, farmer unions in Punjab on Wednesday passed a resolution urging the Narendra Modi-led government to reconsider and withdraw the statutes.

Attending a video conference meeting convened by the CM, the union leaders said the ordinances and the proposed amendments are anti-farmer besides being a direct attack on the federal fabric of the country.

The CM slammed the Centre for undermining the contribution of the farmers and the soldiers, pointing out that they had clearly forgotten ‘kisan’ in the ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ slogan that reverberated through the country when Punjab’s farmers made India self-sufficient in foodgrains.

Amarinder added, “The Centre

is trying to take away all powers from the states. We should raise a united voice to send a strong message to Delhi that we will not allow this to happen.”

He said the state along with the farmer unions will fight the Centre’s move to ruin the agriculture sector even without the support of the Akalis whom he accused of adopting double standards. He would try to get the chief ministers of other states on board to put up a united fight against the Centre on the issue, Capt said.

On a suggestion of state Congress president Sunil Jakhar, the CM said he would get the proposal of challenging the ordinances in court legally examined besides discussing the issue in the Vidhan Sabha.