Slamming the Narendra Modi-led central government for its insensitivity towards the farmers, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab president and Member of Parliament, Bhagwant Mann and MLA from Delhi and Punjab affairs in-charge Jarnail Singh said that after suppressing the farmers with the three black farm laws, the Modi government is now adding insult to injury by introducing Electricity Amendment Bill, 2021; which will eventually take away the rights of the state.Addressing a press conference held here on Thursday, Bhagwant Mann and Jarnail Singh said that the farmers; seeking repeal of three black farm laws, have been sitting on the Delhi borders for the last eight months irrespective of the weather conditions and hundreds of them have been martyred; but the Modi government has opted an insensitive and shameless stance by not listening to the legitimate demands of the farmers. They said that the black farm laws were ‘death warrants’ for the farmers and the government wants to amend that; instead of withdrawing it.Speaking about the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2021, Bhagwant Mann said that it was the same bill, discussion on which had taken place during the 11 rounds of meeting between the farmers’ fraternity and BJP ministers Piyush Goyal and Narendra Singh Tomar. “During the meetings, the farmers were told that this bill will not be introduced. However, later during the all-party meeting, I was told that it was under a condition, if the talks with the farmers would have reached some positive conclusion,” he added.
Taking a dig at the Modi government, Bhagwant Mann said that now under this bill, electricity will no longer be the right of the states. “The centre government is now snatching electricity rights from the states, like GST, agriculture, health and education,” he said, adding that Punjab gives 40 percent of grains to the centre pool and the electricity at the tubewells was free for the farmers. Thus, with this bill, the electricity subsidy that the farmers were getting from the Punjab government will end, he said.Bhagwant Mann said with implementation of this Electricity Amendment Bill, the farmers will start getting bills, which will put more burden on them. “It is under a well thought-out conspiracy of the Modi government to make farming ultra-expensive, that the farmers themselves surrender their lands, asking to give it to the capitalists,” he added.He further said that the farmers were being troubled and harassed by the Modi government and on behalf of the AAP, he will loudly raise the issue pertaining to the Electricity Bill in Parliament. Bhagwant Mann said that the Air Pollution Bill, earlier in which the farmers were about to be set aside; was also coming. “It is loot on the rights of the states and is dangerous for the federal structure. The dictatorial Modi government is trying to destroy the states by forcibly imposing its orders,” said Mann.Lashing out at PM Modi, Bhagwant Mann said that the more than 600 farmers have been martyred during the ongoing struggle, but the PM has not uttered a single word for them. The farmers are now protesting at Jantar Mantar, they are near to the PM now. The government should talk to them and accept their demands so that they can happily move back home,” he added. Bhagwant Mann said that the Aam Aadmi Party would continue its protest against the black farm laws along with the Electricity Amendment Bill; in Punjab and from streets to Parliament.