Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 20

Expressing concern over the threat to agriculture as a result of the “disruptions caused by the three farm laws”, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure urgent resolution of the farm unrest.

Calling for respect for the annadata, the CM, through his speech submitted for the virtual meeting of the NITI Aayog, reiterated his government’s stand that agriculture was a state subject and law-making on the issue should be left to the states “in the true spirit of cooperative federalism enshrined in the Constitution”. Capt Amarinder could not attend the meeting as he was indisposed.

Dispel farmer fears on MSP, says Amarinder

Citing strong apprehension among farmers of the state that the MSP-based procurement regime introduced as part of food security measures in the 1960s might be discontinued in view of the Shanta Kumar Committee report of 2015, the Chief Minister said the Government of India should dispel any such impression “to instil confidence in the farmers of Punjab”.

In his speech, the CM asserted that any reform in a sector subsuming almost 60 per cent of the country’s workforce must be done only through extensive consultation with stakeholders.

The CM also used the forum to once again reiterate the state government’s demand for a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal on paddy procured as “paddy straw management compensation”.

Underlining the importance of aligning the cropping system with agro-climatic conditions for the optimum use of resources, Capt Amarinder called upon the Government of India to designate agencies to procure and provide MSP matching the returns of wheat and paddy. This will motivate farmers to take up cultivation of alternate crops, he said.