Farmers’ protest a sign of desperation in face of centre’s indifference, says Punjab CM

Talking to mediapersons at the Haryana Raj Bhawan here after the swearing-in of Krishna Murari as the new Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Captain Amarinder said the farming community in the country was in the grip of a serious crisis due to the indifferent attitude of the BJP-led central government.

The government had failed to provide any succor to the beleaguered farmers, who were unable to make both ends meet due to its antagonistic policies, said the Chief Minister, adding that despite repeated pleas by Punjab and other state governments, the Centre had failed to come to the rescue of the farming community.

Farmers were committing suicide due to their mounting debt burdens as agriculture was no longer financially viable for them in view of the inadequate MSP, he pointed out, reiterating that in toto implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report was the only impactful and long-term solution to the agrarian crisis in the country.

Asked about the possibility of a poll alliance between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in view of the ensuing 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Chief Minister said the decision rests with the Congress high command, which will consider the matter as and when the need arises. The Punjab Congress leadership would give its opinion in the matter to the party high command as and when the same was sought by the latter, he added.

The Chief Minister welcomed the appointment of Krishna Murari as the new CJI, saying that, as an eminent jurist, he would bring the wealth of his experience to the judicial systems of both Punjab and Haryana.

Murari was earlier sworn in by Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki in the presence of Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore and Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, as well as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.