Punjab CM Amarinder Singh meets Amit Shah; appeals to Centre, farmers to resolve impasse soon

He urged the home minister to find an early solution to the issue, adding that it is a national security issue

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday met Home Minister Amit Shah but made it clear that he was not mediating between the Centre and the farmers protesting against the farm sector reforms.

Singh also made an appeal to the farmers to find an early solution to the deadlock with the Centre as the protests are adversely impacting the state’s economy and also posed a danger to national security.

“My appeal to farmers is that they just urgently find a solution to this problem. It is impacting national security and Punjab’s economy,” he told reporters after a meeting with Shah that took place as farmer leaders met a panel of Union ministers to seek redressal for their demands.

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“The two sides should not take rigid positions and a meeting ground must be found,” Singh said.

The chief minister also urged Shah to address the concerns of the farmers quickly as an early resolution is vital for the interest of both Punjab and the country.

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Stressing the need to protect the MSP and continue with the APMC system, Singh urged the Union Home Minister to listen to the farmers with an open mind to resolve the standoff quickly, so that farmers from Punjab and other states, including a large number of women, can return to their homes.

The chief minister and the Congress have been supporting the farmers’ stir and the Punjab Assembly had also passed a set of bills aimed at negating the Centre’s farm laws.