Chandigarh, January 31: Punjab Aam Aadmi Party today responded to Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s justification on the party’s demand to provide protection to the protesting farmers.
Raghav Chadha had urged the CM to use his authority and provide security to the farmers.
Here’s the letter that Raghav Chadha wrote to the CM:
“Captain Saab should put his money where his mouth is and deploy forces. If his only problem is that there is a 72 hours limit, begin the protection, deploy Punjab Police for at least 72 hours, and in the meantime get exemption from MHA, – and if refused, take recourse against it.”
It is easy to simply abdicate responsibilities by citing laws and judgements. If there was
genuine concern and intent on their part, the law always provides ways and means.
I am happy to see that the Captain Saab has at least admitted what his colleague has lied
about yesterday – that it is not impossible for the police to go into another state to grant
protection. Good that they claim that it is possible for them to provide protection for 72
hours.
Now is the time for Congress and Captain to actually demonstrate their true intent: deploy your forces for 72 hours at least, to protect the farmers from – BJP’s goons and Delhi Police’s apathy – by declaring them as protectees. Or is it your claim that your netas and babus are more important than the ordinary farmer – than the annadaata of the nation? If you are able to cavort in the National Capital Territory of Delhi for weeks at a stretch with your full complement of security, why shouldn’t our farmer sisters and brothers be able to get at least minimum protection?
It is easy to simply abdicate responsibilities by citing laws and judgements. If there was genuine concern and intent on their part, the law always provides ways and means. Captain Saab, could have simply written to MHA asking for permission to provide protection to the farmers since the Delhi Police is obviously incapable or unwilling to protect them. After all, this is the same Captain Saab who claims to have demanded and gotten a place for Punjab in a High Powered Committee (though he did nothing for the farmers once he was in it), from the Prime Minister Shri Modiji himself.
Captain Saab is quick to claim that law is prohibiting him from protecting the farmers for
more than 72 hours, but is not willing to even provide protection for a minute. The same MHA that issued the circular will obviously have the power to relax them if they are asked to.
If you do ask for relaxation and they refuse, there are enough and more means of challenging and getting that set aside. Politics, diplomacy and legal recourse are available to everyone in the country against the MHA – so long as they are willing. The Aam Aadmi Party is more than happy to teach the Congress how to get what their citizens need; what our farmer sister and brothers need.
Captain Saab should put his money where his mouth is and deploy forces. If his only problem is that there is a 72 hours limit, begin the protection, deploy Punjab Police for at least 72 hours, and in the meantime get exemption from MHA, – and if refused, take recourse against it.
His issue is that such protection cannot be given to farmers because it is impossible to declare them protectees because they are not at par with his own netas, OSDs and Advisors.
He believes his position is superior to the shivering, huddled masses of our annadaata who are fighting for their fundamental right to life and livelihood, and that is an extremely unfortunate stand to take. Congress’ and Captain Saab’s intent is very clear – refuse protection by hook or crook, and find a thousand excuses for the same.
