Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann categorically said that his doors are always open for talks with the farmers but inconvenience and harassment of the general public on the name of agitation should be avoided.
Interacting with the farmers during a meeting at Punjab Bhawan on Monday, he said that the government is always ready to resolve the issues pertaining to various sections of society through negotiations so that the trouble to the common man through rail or road blockades must be avoided.
He said that such action causes problems to the general people due to which they turn against the agitators thereby creating discord in the society. Mann said that unfortunately the common man has to suffer a lot due to such protests which is totally unwarranted and undesirable.
The Chief Minister said that though protest is democratic right of the farmers but they should also think that it is bringing huge loss to the state. He said that the traders and industrialists have been ruing that due to frequent road and rail blocks their businesses have been ruined.
Mann made fervent appeal to the farmers to avoid such tactics that create discord amongst the society.
He said that though the state government is solidly with the farmers but all the demands of the food growers are concerned with the Union government. However, the CM said that due to the frequent protests by the farmers unions, Punjab and Punjabis have to face the heat.
Citing an example, Mann said that due to blockade of roads daily thousands of people have to suffer.
He urged the farmers to refrain from creating inconvenience to the common man through their protests as it disrupts the daily routine of people.
The Chief Minister said that the rail and road blockades don’t have any impact on the Union government but the life of common man is adversely affected by it. Mann further said that none of his previous predecessors had done so many meetings with the farmers to listen their problems.
However, he said that it is unfortunate that farmers still want to protest in the state for no reason related with the Punjab government.
The CM said that he is the custodian of the rights of every strata of the state and their interests will be secured by all ways and means.
Mann said that the state government has already rejected the draft of National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing framed by Government of India.
He said that agriculture and agricultural marketing is a state subject and the Union government has no role to play in it. The Chief Minister said that the draft reflects the anti-Punjab and anti-farmers stance of the Union government.
Mann said that the state government has already opposed this draft tooth and nail through a written reply which was sent to the Union government.
He further said that the state government has already prepared the draft agriculture policy and added that the suggestions have been asked from all the stakeholders and it will be finalised once reply is received from all.
The Chief Minister said that the policy will be formulated only after the reply is received from all the stakeholders, adding that within 20 days reply from all the stakeholders will be received.
