· CAUTIONS FARMERS AGAINST LETTING ANYONE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR AGITATION TO DISTURB STATE’S PEACE
Chandigarh, December 8: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday cautioned the farmers against elements that could try to take advantage of their agitation and spoil the peaceful atmosphere of the state.
Congratulating the farmers for ensuring peace during the Bharat Bandh today, just as they had maintained peace throughout their over 2-month long protests, the Chief Minister warned that during agitations and similar situations, some people with no genuine concern about the cause of the protestors, try to take advantage for their own petty gains by disturbing the peaceful environment.
In a Facebook Live message, Captain Amarinder expressed happiness that the bandh was completely peaceful in Punjab, and appreciated the farmers for exercising their democratic right of protest peacefully. Even when they blocked railways tracks in Punjab, there was no violence, he pointed out.
The Chief Minister, while urging the Centre to understand the pain of the farmers, hoped that the deadlock over the Farm Laws, for which talks are currently in progress, is resolved soon. Punjab’s farmers have been at the forefront of the agitation, which has been going on for long, he pointed out, adding that with the weather getting colder, it was important for the Government of India to find a solution so that the farmers could go back home. This was also essential in view of the ongoing Rabi sowing season, he said, adding that “the country needs our grains.”
Regretting that the ongoing agitation had cost some lives, including the death of an elderly woman today, the Chief Minister announced his government’s full support for the victims’ families.