Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticized the Centre’s lack of response to the hunger strike by farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and protests at the Punjab-Haryana border. Linking the silence to the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, Mann accused the BJP of creating challenges for Punjab to use them for political gain.
Mann emphasized the need for dialogue, holding the BJP responsible if anything happens to Dallewal, who has been fasting for 38 days. “Dialogue is key to resolving the issue.
Stubbornness spoils matters. Even wars are resolved through talks,” he remarked, urging the Centre to address Dallewal’s demands. He highlighted Punjab’s role as the largest contributor to the central food pool and appealed for cooperation.
The Supreme Court recently directed Punjab to ensure Dallewal’s health, and Mann assured compliance. Over 50 doctors monitor his condition, and a nearby facility has been converted into a medical center. However, Mann expressed frustration at the Centre’s insistence on hospitalization without addressing the root cause.
Rejecting the Centre’s proposed Agricultural Marketing Policy, Mann accused the BJP of reintroducing contentious farm laws through indirect means.
Punjab CM stresses peaceful solutions and warns against politicizing farmer issues near elections.
He criticized the move to dismantle Punjab’s mandi system, which he described as integral to the state’s agrarian economy. “We will formally reject this policy,” Mann declared, advocating for Punjab’s mandi modernization efforts instead.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and current Chief Minister Atishi echoed Mann’s concerns, accusing the BJP of sidelining farmers. The BJP, in response, claimed AAP was politicizing the crisis. Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused AAP of neglecting farmers.
Mann appealed to Dallewal to prioritize his health, warning that prolonged agitation requires leadership.
He also urged restraint among farmers, cautioning against actions like statewide bandhs, which harm Punjab’s economy. Calling for a national perspective, Mann urged the Centre to engage all stakeholders to resolve the crisis peacefully.
The Chief Minister concluded by emphasizing Punjab’s sacrifices for the nation’s agricultural needs and called on the Centre to ensure fairness and collaboration.
