Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi reached 7, Lok Kalyan Marg to meet PM Narendra Modi. The newly-appointed Punjab CM reportedly spoke to the Prime Minister about farm laws and urged him to open the Kartarpur corridor, which was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting lasted for about an hour.
“I asked the PM to resolve the matter of farmers’ protest and resume dialogue with the protesting farmers. I demanded that the three laws should be withdrawn… Although it was a courtesy call, I’ve shared 3 issues with him. Firstly, procurement season usually begins in Punjab on 1st Oct but this year Centre has decided to begin it on 10th Oct. I’ve requested him to start procurement now,” Channi told reporters after meeting PM Modi.
The development comes at a time when Punjab is facing a major political crisis following the resignation of Navjot Singh Sidhu as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief. The farm laws are a point of contention in Punjab which is slated to go to the polls next year.
“Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi will call on PM Narendra Modi in Delhi today. The CM will take up the farmers’ issues including the repeal of farm laws and postponement of the paddy procurement date. Reopening of Kartarpur Corridor also on agenda,” Punjab CMO had said earlier this week.
Channi urged PM to intervene and seek withdrawal of orders regarding paddy procurement
On Tuesday, Channi had urged the Centre to repeal the farm laws and warned that if the Centre did not act, the state would convene a session of the Vidhan Sabha to reject the laws. On Thursday, Channi had sought intervention by PM Narendra Modi, urging him to direct the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to withdraw their orders regarding paddy procurement.
Earlier today, Channi had urged the Centre to take the farmers issue seriously and avoid turning Punjab into Jammu and Kashmir. Congress is facing a major political crisis in the state after the resignation of Sidhu. Earlier today, senior Congress leader Harish Rawat slammed former CM Amarinder Singh, claiming that he ‘failed’ on resolving a number of serious issues in Punjab.
