Punjab Becomes the First State to Reject Centre’s 'Anti-Farmer' Draft: AAP
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Synopsis
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) applauded Punjab's rejection of the Centre's agricultural marketing reform draft, marking a historic moment for farmers' rights in the state. AAP leaders emphasized the importance of this decision for safeguarding farmers' interests and challenged opposition parties to take similar stances in their respective regions.
Key Takeaways
- Punjab becomes the first state to reject the draft.
- Decision protects farmers and agricultural stakeholders.
- Concerns raised about minimum support price (MSP) challenges.
- Potential negative impact on the mandi system.
- Call for other states to follow Punjab's example.
Chandigarh, Feb 25 (NationPress) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) praised the Punjab government's decision to dismiss the Centre's suggested agricultural marketing reform draft during the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session.
This significant move positions Punjab as the pioneering state to oppose this “anti-farmer” draft, thereby safeguarding the interests of farmers and other stakeholders in the province’s agricultural landscape, stated party spokesperson Neel Garg.
He extended congratulations to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his administration for their firm stance in support of farmers.
“This marks a historic day. The Modi government's draft was a direct assault on the rights of Punjab and its agricultural community. The Mann government has demonstrated exceptional determination in protecting the interests of the state's farmers,” Garg remarked.
He noted that when the draft was first presented by the Central government, State Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian engaged in discussions with all stakeholders, which included farmer unions, laborers, commission agents (arhtiyas), and other representatives from the agricultural sector.
Through these dialogues, it became apparent that the proposal was detrimental to the state’s welfare and would negatively affect farmers in the long term.
He underscored the adverse consequences the draft could have inflicted. These include potential challenges for farmers in selling their crops at the minimum support price (MSP), the disintegration of the state’s mandi (market) system, severe impacts on commission agents' incomes, and road maintenance under the Rural Development Fund (RDF), which supports approximately 65,000 km of roads, would be jeopardized due to reduced financing.
Garg asserted that this decision embodies “AAP's unwavering support for farmers and their struggles. The AAP has consistently backed farmers, endorsed their demands, and opposed any policies that threaten their rights.”
He further urged opposition parties, particularly Congress, to take comparable actions in other states.
“While Congress professes to champion farmers, why haven’t their state governments contested this draft? Punjab is leading the charge, and other states ought to follow this example,” the AAP spokesperson concluded.
