Punjab CM backstabbed farmers over agri-related Bills: SAD

S on Thursday hit out at Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh over issue of farm Bills, alleging his government's “active participation” in framing legislations.

Shiromani Akali Dal senior leer Daljit Singh Cheema asked CM to issue a white paper on his “participation” in meeting of a high-powered committee on agriculture.

“ CM has backstabbed farming community of Punjab in meeting of high-powered committee set up by Centre,” Cheema alleged while talking to media here.

He claimed that CM was trying to “conceal” his “participation” in framing three farm-related legislations.

CM h rejected Centre's claim that Punjab was taken on board before promulgation of three farm-related ordinances, replaced by Bills in Parliament by Centre.

Singh h reacted to a statement me in Parliament by Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Raosaheb Patil Danve, that high-powered committee on agriculture h decided on ordinances after due consideration by all member states.

Cheema said it was shocking that CM was w “uttering blatant lies” to “hide” his involvement in supporting ordinances.

He said t only was CM a member of high-powered committee which framed ordinances but Finance minister Manpreet Singh Bal also attended a meeting of panel in Mumbai.

“ Congress-led government also sent a six-p te to Centre which formed its reaction to discussion on ordinances,” he claimed.

“w that it has been proven beyond doubt that Congress government h actively participated in framing of ordinances, state government must issue a white paper detailing all meetings, ministers and officers who h participated in same,” he said.

“All this is necessary to make it clear to people as to who betrayed m,” said Cheema.

Cheema, a former Punjab minister, claimed that Congress-led government's response highlighted need of market reforms and said freeing agriculture market was only way farmers could get higher prices for ir agricultural produce.

He said Congress in its manifesto during 2019 Lok Sabha polls h promised to repeal Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act and allow free inter-state tre without any restrictions. 

(Photo: PTI)