Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Sidhu again writes to CM, demands withdrawal of cases against farmers, broadening scope of MSP for crops
Chandigarh, September 2021: Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu has demanded Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh for the cancellation of ‘unjust and unfair’ FIRs registered against the farmers in the state and giving MSP on more crops among many other demands for the farmers’ welfare.
In the letter written to Punjab CM, Sidhu also asked the former to do more to support farmers in their agitation against the three farm bills and present the vision of agriculture to the farmers in Punjab.
Here’s is a copy of a letter written by Sidhu to Captain:
This is to bring to your attention and request for necessary action, upon the demands raised by 32 Farmer Unions at the meeting called by them with Congress Party on 10 September 2021 in Chandigarh.
Firstly, they demand the cancellation of unjust and unfair FIRs registered against the Farmer Unions due to cases of violence during the agitation in the State. Congress Party has supported the Farmers in every endeavor since the beginning of the agitation and our Govt has facilitated the protesting Farmers by providing maximum support to their Protests against the three Black Laws and for the legalization of MSP.
Yet, some FIRs have been registered due to untoward incidences and Govt could set up a mechanism to consider each case on compassionate grounds and cancel all unfair cases.
Secondly, Farmers fear the demand for Land Records - ‘Fard’, to demarcate details of land ownership before procurement as ordered by the Central Govt is unjust, and I personally believe it is unfair and against a large number of farmers who are sowing crops by taking land on lease, and due to ‘Sanjha Mushtarkha Khata’ with No clear land ownership as for decades partition of land has not happened in many parts of our state.
While many owners of the land are now living abroad. This is also an attack on the resilient system of procurement by MSP through Arthiyas and to push the Farmers away from APMC Mandis towards Private Markets where No such Records are being demanded. Thus, I strongly feel that the Central Govt is actually creating “One Nation, Two Markets” with different rules for APMC and Private Markets. This injustice we must fight against !
I write to you with consideration for the work Punjab Congress has already done for Agriculture and our commitment to do much more. Punjab State has allocated 10.9% of its Budget expenditure for Agriculture in 2021–22 with 30% year on increase, which is much higher than the average allocation by other States at 6.3%. With 7181 Crore to be sent on Power Subsidy for Agriculture in one year. We have waived of 5,810 Crore of Farmer loans since 2017 and most recently 520 Crore of loans of Farm Labour and Landless Farmers.
Noting the efficiency of Govt procurement done by the Congress Govt. Congress workers and leaders have stood by the Farmer agitation at every stage of the Protest. Yet, We must do more, standing firmer on our resolution passed in Vidhan Sabha in October 2020, We should not let the three blacks be implemented in our state at any cost !
The victory against the three black laws will take us back to June 2020, while the deeper economic crisis of Punjab Agriculture incumbent upon will remain as it is. We must take steps ahead from the Farmer agitation’s fight against the three black laws to do more and present the vision for Punjab agriculture, to increase Punjab’s farmers' income using every resource and power we have as a state to stand with the Farmers.
We must begin procurement of dals and oilseeds through State Corporations as MSP is announced upon them by CACP. Further, Invest in Diversification by giving MSP on more Crops, giving storage capacity in hands of Farmers and strengthening Farmer’ financial capabilities through Cooperatives and forward linkages to trade without dependence on Corporates. This Vision I have been continuously presenting since September 2020 !
Sincerely
Navjot Singh Sidhu
President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee
