Chandigarh, January 8: Rejecting as completely baseless and malicious all allegations and reports to the contrary, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said there was no question of deputing police officers to negotiate with farmers protesting at the Delhi border.
Pointing out that he had made it categorically clear that the ball was in the Centre’s court, with the Punjab government having no role to play in the negotiations with farmers, the chief minister ridiculed the charges being flaunted by Akali and AAP leaders on the basis of unfounded reports in a small section of the media.
With farmers protests going on in his state since long before the agitation started at the Delhi border, he had naturally asked police officers to give him regular intelligence reports and updates on the situation not just from the national capital but also across Punjab, Captain Amarinder pointed out, trashing the twisted and senseless interpretation being given to the presence of a few Punjab Police personnel at the farmers’ protest site.
It was the job of the state police to keep tabs on the evolving situation, and it was his job, as both chief minister and home minister, to remain updated about all developments, he added.
“Anyone who believes that a couple of police officers can negotiate with the farmers or persuade the Kisan leaders to accept the Centre’s suggestions on amendments to the farm laws is really naive,” the chief minister remarked.
And where is the question of him (Captain Amarinder) coming into a negotiation process in which the top central government leadership is currently engaged, he asked.
