New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Wednesday, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to immediately initiate steps for the repeal of three contentious Farm Laws, and amendment to the relevant law for including farmers in free legal aid category. The Punjab CM submitted two separate letters to PM Modi for immediate review and revocation of the three farm Laws.
Pointing to the prolonged agitation, the Chief Minister said, "The stir had the potential of posing security threats for Punjab and the country with Pak-backed anti-India forces looking to exploit the farmers’ disgruntlement with the Government."
Urging the Prime Minister’s intervention for expeditious redressal of the farmers’ legitimate concerns by the Government of India to explore an enduring solution, the Chief Minister said the continued agitation was not only impacting economic activities in Punjab but also had the potential to affect the social fabric, especially when political parties and groups take strong positions.
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The chief minister further underlined the need to compensate farmers for the management of paddy straw at Rs.100 per quintal and also to address the fears of DAP shortage, which could aggravate the farmers’ problems and the crisis triggered by the Farm Laws. In another letter, the Chief Minister stressed that due to the fragmentation of landholdings, and persistent disputes with lessees and various market operators and agents, the farmers are also facing heightened litigation these days, causing stress on their meagre financial resources.
“It is, thus, the need of the hour to amend Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, to include farmers and farm workers in the category of persons entitled to free legal services to pursue and defend themselves in the courts to secure their livelihood,” said Captain Amarinder Singh as per the official statement from his office.
He felt this step would help reduce cases of farmer suicides and ensure better protection of their legal and financial rights. Singh urged the Prime Minister to advise the concerned central ministries dealing with farmer welfare and laws to carry out necessary amendments to the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, in the larger interest of the farmers.
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