AAP's launches its ‘Gram Sabha bulao-Pind bachao, Punjab bachao’ campaign in Punjab today

Ludhiana: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab state president and MP Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that earlier, the Badals had stabbed the farmers of the state in the back, by advocating in favour of the anti-agriculture black laws and now were hell bent on playing cards to torpedo the farmers’ struggle by engaging themselves in nefarious designs to breaking the mobilization of the farmers and common people of Punjab. The press conference was also addressed by in charge of Punjab affairs Jarnail Singh, and Bibi Sarabjit Kaur Manuke, Deputy Leader of Opposition.

Addressing the media persons here on Tuesday, Bhagwant Mann said that, while on the one hand SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal was holding rallies to express ‘solidarity’ with the farmers, on the other, chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh was making a commitment to fight a legal battle against the anti-agricultural black laws, saying he would go to any extent to get them tweaked at all costs. He alleged that the ground reality was just the opposite and  both Capt Amarinder Singh and Badal were trying to hoodwink the farmers as both had played a pivotal role in the passage of the anti-agriculture black laws. He accused them of shedding tears now.

On the occasion, Jarnail Singh, accusing  Sukhbir Badal of maintaining double standards on the issue, said he (Sukhbir Badal), who was now speaking against the anti-agriculture bills, had supported the anti-agriculture bills in Punjab through holding press conferences, adding the Badals were dancing to Modi’s tunes.

Jarnail Singh and Bibi Sarabjit Kaur Manuke said that CM Amarinder Singh, who now wanted to fight a legal battle against the anti-agriculture laws in the interest of the farmers, had said that an all-party meeting would be convened soon against the controversial Bills, which was nothing but a design to grab eyeballs. They alleged that CM Amarinder Singh and Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal had tacitly given their nod to the black laws, saying they were being implemented through the Montek Singh Ahluwalia Committee constituted in the name of financial reforms.

They said the Aam Aadmi Party had always raised its pitch against the Agriculture Ordinances and has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the farmers and that it would continue to do so in the future as well, which was why it was launching the campaign ‘Gram Sabha bulao, village and Punjab Bachao’ all across Punjab.

Bhagwant Mann today termed Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas as the roots of democracy and said that Gram Sabhas were an effective weapon to protect the democratic system and prevent the implementation of black laws being imposed in the country in the state.

Elaborating on Gram Sabha, Bhagwant Mann said that Gram Sabha existed in every village with Gram Panchayat and every citizen of 18 years or above is a Gram Sabha voter. The Sarpanch / Panchayat of the village could convene a Gram Sabha session as a special case on a minimum of seven days' notice, so the Sarpanch needed to be informed. If for some reason or pressure the Sarpanch was reluctant to convene a Gram Sabha session, 20 per cent of the village voters could sign and convene a Gram Sabha session through the BDPO. The agenda passed by the majority must be recorded in the Panchayat's official record.

Bhagwant Mann appealed to all the Sarpanches of Punjab to rise above party politics and convene Gram Sabhas in their respective villages and vehemently oppose the black laws.

Jarnail Singh said that a helpline number would be released later to facilitating those seeking to gather requisite information in this regard.