Punjab’s Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh invited the leaders of the agricultural unions to a meeting on Saturday to resolve the ongoing confrontation over the stop of passenger trains by unions in the state.
Farmers are in arms against three agricultural laws passed in Parliament. They say these laws deter their interests.
Since October 7, the Center has imposed restrictions on the movement of freight trains that the unions request to allow the movement of passenger trains, if they want freight trains to run in the state.
“We hope to resolve the confrontation. I am sure that they (the agricultural unions) will show their respect for the CM initiative by resolving the matter, ”said Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, who is part of the three-member committee of ministers to speak to protesting agricultural unions.
The invitation was sent to the leaders of the 31 agricultural agencies of the state.
People familiar with the matter said the prime minister was willing to resolve the standoff. He has also requested the appointment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the union’s interior minister, Amit Shah. State authorities await confirmation from the Center on Saturday.
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Due to restrictions on freight trains, urea stocks for the wheat crop have not arrived, coal supplies have dried up, leading to the closure of two thermal plants and food grain stocks are also building up. in the state.
Saturday’s meeting with the agricultural unions will be the second initiative of its kind taken by the CM. The last meeting was held on September 29, in which the CM promised farmers to introduce laws to counter the three core laws. However, the state committee of ministers has met with the agricultural unions on several occasions.
Jagmohan Singh, General Secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan (Dakounda) Union, said: “We have held meetings with officials of our union and an agreement has almost been reached to allow freight trains for the good of Punjab. We are in contact with other agricultural organizations that also think along similar lines. “
The agricultural unions hope that Amarinder Singh will push for the opening of the toll plazas as a number of them are on state roads and the state government is incurring losses.
Jagmohan Singh said that the 30 agricultural bodies will meet before meeting with the CM.
In a meeting with the unions on November 13, they were asked by union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal to vacate railroad properties and allow the movement of passenger trains only after which cargo was allowed to enter Punjab. . At their November 18 meeting, agricultural agencies asked the Center for first freight trains to send, after which they will let the passenger trains run.
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