CM SLAMS MODI GOVERNMENT FOR ANTI-FARMING STANCE

SAYS PUNJAB WILL VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE ANY MOVE BY CENTRE TO GET THE DRACONIAN ANTI-FARMERS LAW PASSED THROUGH BACK DOOR

URGES UNION GOVERNMENT TO OPEN DIALOGUE WITH THE FARMERS

ASSERTS THAT UNION GOVERNMENT IS SHYINGAWAY TO TALK WITH THE FARMERS

REQUESTS DALLEWAL TO END HIS FAST AS HIS LIFE WAS TOO PRECIOUS FOR COUNTRY

PUNJAB NEITHER NEEDS AIR AMBULANCE NOR EXTRA FORCE TO TACKLE FARMER AGITATION, BUT CENTRE SHOULD OPEN DIALOGUE WITH FARMERS

Chandigarh, January 2-Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi Union government for anti-farmers stance, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday unequivocally said that the state government will vehemently oppose any move of centre to once again pass anti-farmers draconian law through back door.

Interacting with the media here at his official residence, the Chief Minister said that from the last few months farmers agitation is going at Shambhu and Khanori borders. He said that during last January and February farmers groups had detailed parleys with the centre government in which the state government acted as a bridge. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the demands of the farmers are primarily concerned with the Union government and Punjab has no role to play in it.

However, the Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that after forming the government at centre, the Modi led government has not bothered to show any concern about the farmers. He said that now the union government is trying to bring back the black laws through the back door. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that all the demands of the farmers are related to the Union government but unfortunately the Modi government is apathetic towards it.

The Chief Minister said that the fast by farmers leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is going on but the union government is giving cold shoulder to it whereas the state government has deployed more than 50 Doctors to take care of the health of farmers leader. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he had himself called Dallewal and urged him to end his fast but the Union government has not made any effort to assuage the sentiments of food growers. He said that the Union government wants Dallewal and farmers should be lifted from the protest site irrespective of the fact that they are not creating any law and order problem.

The Chief Minister said that he was surprised that the Union government is shying away from talking with the farmers and trying to put the onus on the state government. He said that instead of making any effort to redress the grievances of the farmers, the Union government is trying to fix the responsibility of the farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that ironically rather than solving problems of farmers the Union government is again ready to implement the draconian laws.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will not support this move which is against the interests of Punjab and its farmers. He said that the state government is already implementing the orders of the Supreme Court to save precious lives of the farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a paradoxical situation that the issues of farmers are concerned with the centre, Haryana is using force on farmers and Punjab is being made accountable for that.

The Chief Minister urged the farmers leader Dallewal to end his fast as his life was too important for the country and food growers. He said that the Union government is not making any efforts to even initiate dialogue with the farmers despite the enormous contribution of farmers of Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the centre should shun his haughty and apathetic approach and open talks with all the stakeholders.

The Chief Minister said that the centre has failed to provide DAP fertilizers to the farmers and rice from the state have not yet been lifted. However, he said that instead of solving these problems, the union government is creating a rift in the state, especially between farmers and the government which is intolerable. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his government is giving highest SAP to sugarcane cultivators, efforts are being made to lift the water level in the state and others adding that more efforts are being made to make agriculture a profitable venture.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab neither needs air ambulance nor extra force to tackle farmers agitation but centre should open dialogue with all the stakeholders especially with farmers. He said that hard earned peace of the state should be maintained by all means adding that the centre should not stoop too low just to take advantage in Delhi assembly polls. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the union government is running away from solving this issue by holding parleys with the farmers.

The Chief Minister said that he is daily flagging off this issue with the union government but they are not heeding to any demand of the farmers. He said that agriculture is a state subject but the union government is trying to thrust its decision on the state which is unjustified. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a fact that the Modi government is habitual of using force to get its decision implemented adding that Modi has time to act as global leader but he doesn't want to solve problems faced by the countrymen.

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Tarunpreet Singh Sond launched special campaign for Cleaning Village Ponds

- Review meeting with senior officers of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department

- Instructions issued to organize special camps in villages for creating MGNREGA job cards

- Transparent leasing of panchayat lands to be ensured: Sond

- Directions to extend benefits of all schemes and programs to the grassroots level

- Achieve all targets within set timelines: Minister of Rural Development and Panchayats

- Officials urged to work diligently and honestly in public service

Chandigarh, January 2:Punjab’s Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, has instructed senior officials of the department to focus specifically on the cleaning of village ponds. He emphasized that a special campaign should be launched to revamp the ponds in all villages.

While chairing a review meeting with senior officials, ADCs, DDPOS, BDPOS, and officers from various wings of the department at the Panchayat Bhavan, Sond directed that, in the first phase, a list of 25% of villages from each constituency requiring immediate cleaning of ponds should be prepared in consultation with the area’s representatives. He stated that work should begin promptly in these villages and be completed before the monsoon season.

Sond mentioned that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann envisions transforming Punjab into a “Rangla Punjab” and achieving this requires comprehensive rural development. He stressed that Punjab’s villages should be developed as model villages and directed that the benefits of all government schemes and programs should reach the grassroots level to ensure the maximum development of rural areas.

On this occasion, the minister also issued instructions to organize special camps in villages to create job cards under MGNREGA. He suggested that these camps should be commence from religious places in the villages to maximize public participation.

It is noteworthy that under the MGNREGA scheme, over 11 lakh job cards are currently operational. During the financial year 2024-25, approximately Rs. 1,000 crore has been spent, generating more than 2.15 crore person-days of employment and benefiting an average of 7 lakh rural families.

In addition, the minister directed that panchayat lands should be leased transparently to ensure that the revenue generated is used for the development of villages. He highlighted that since the formation of the current government, a campaign to remove illegal encroachments from panchayat lands has been initiated, and over 12,800 acres of panchayat land, worth more than ₹3,080 crore, have been reclaimed so far. Officials informed that leasing approximately 6,000 acres of this reclaimed land has generated ₹10.76 crore in annual revenue for the year 2024-25. Sond instructed that the remaining land should also be leased transparently.

On this occasion, the minister urged all officials to work diligently and honestly in public service and directed that ongoing projects should be completed within set timelines. He emphasized achieving all targets by March 31, 2025, to mark the next financial year as a landmark year for transforming Punjab’s villages. He also issued guidelines for planting more trees in villages, noting that over 95 lakh saplings have been planted this year by the department.

Additionally, the minister directed expediting the construction of sports grounds in villages and accelerating the work under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin). He also urged field officers to focus on solid and liquid waste management to enhance the appearance and sanitation of villages.

The meeting was attended by Administrative Secretary Dilraj Singh, Director Parmjit Singh, JDC Dr. Shena Aggarwal, senior officials from the headquarters, ADCs (Development), DDPOs, BDPOs, and officers from various wings across Punjab.