Chandigarh: While expressing solidarity with the farmers of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday said that the state government is firmly standing with the food growers of the country in this hour of crisis.

Taking part in meeting with the farmers and the Union Ministers including Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai, the Chief Minister said that the incidents in the past few days were unfortunate and could have been avoided. He said that the use of drones to attack the agitating farmers is intolerable and the state government has already opposed it. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that after his direction the Deputy Commissioner of Patiala had vehemently raised this issue before the Deputy Commissioner of Ambala.

The Chief Minister said that the Internet services in three districts of the state have been suspended, which is adversely effecting the studies of the students. He said that these days exams are going on and online study is being done but the suspension of internet services is highly condemnable. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he does not want any of the youth of the stand to stand before water cannon or tear gas shells.

The Chief Minister said that the state government fully supports the demands being raised by the farmers of Punjab. He reiterated that barbed fences have been put on the borders of state with Haryana to segregate Punjab from India which is not fair. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this type of step motherly treatment with the farmers of the state is unwarranted and undesirable.

The Chief Minister said that opposition labels them as ‘B’ team of the BJP but as a fact of matter AAP is the ‘A’ team of farmers. On the allegations of Haryana that Punjab is sponsoring farmers agitation, he said that should curfew be imposed in state for stopping peaceful protest of the farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they are not in politics for the sake of chairs and are not afraid of the threat regarding imposition of President’s rule in the state.

The Chief Minister said that they are the advocates of the farmers and is participating in the meeting just because the food growers had desired so. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is personally keeping a tab over the entire situation adding that all the hospitals in the state have been put on high alert. He said that till yet 54 farmers have been seriously injured and the state government will provide them with free treatment.

The Chief Minister apprised the Union Ministers that the hard working and resilient farmers of the state had made the country self reliant in food production. He said that for this farmers had even exploited the only available natural resources of the state in terms of fertile soil and water. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to this the water table has reached in dark zone in majority of blocks across the state.

The Chief Minister said that paddy is not the crop of state but state produces it just to fill the national food pool. He said that there are several challenges in the way of crop diversification. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that if the Union government release the funds under RDF to the state then the state government can compensate the farmers to encourage diversification.

The Chief Minister said that whether it is the issue of paddy management or any other issue, all are related to the economy of the farmers. However, he said that instead of solving it the Union government is giving cold shoulder to genuine issues of the farmers which is not right. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is unfortunate that the Union government is having apathetic approach towards the agrarian issues which is not in the interest of the country.

The Chief Minister said that some anti social elements are trying to incite the farmers and damage the property. He said that if someone incites the farmers then the state government will take stern action against him. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for it the CCTV footages will be checked adding that even if any farmer wants to give statement in this regard it will also be recorded for further action.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that next round of meeting will be held on Sunday evening. He said that consensus has been achieved at various points and more important issues will be resolved soon. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he had already brought the Union government to talk to the farmers and this issue will be resolved through talks only.

The Chief Minister said that as custodian of the state he will not allow any section of society to suffer due to the protest. He said that all the supplies will be uninterruptedly assured in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he had asked the Union government to ensure that Haryana government does not bully the farmers of the state who are doing their protest peacefully.