Addressing a protest organised by Jalandhar (Rural) District Congress here on Friday, Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary affirmed Congress party’s unwavering support for the farmers and said it had already announced legalizing the minimum support price regime for crops if the INDIA coalition came to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Jalandhar (Rural) unit of Congress held the protest as part of its statewide demonstrations in solidarity with farmers across all district headquarters.MLA Chaudhary criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) central government for failing to fulfill promises made to farmers during the previous protests against the three farm laws. Consequently, he said, the farmers were forced to launch another agitation.
He highlighted Congress's steadfast support for the farmers' cause, emphasizing Punjab's role as the first state to formally reject the Centre's three farm laws by passing a resolution in the state assembly. The Phillaur MLA stated Haryana was Punjab’s younger brother, but the BJP government of Haryana had made the inter-state border worse than the India-Pakistan border.
Jalandhar (Rural) District Congress president and Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia said it was because of the Centre’s three anti-farmers laws that over 700 people had to sacrifice their lives, but despite promising to resolve the farmers’ issues, the Centre had taken no action in the last two years. He also criticized Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party government for its inaction against Haryana's aggression, citing incidents of Haryana police firing and drone incursions into Punjab.
MLA Laddi Sherowalia underscored Punjab's historical contributions to India's freedom struggle and its pivotal role as the nation's breadbasket during the Green Revolution. However, he lamented the Centre failed to honor promises made to farmers, emphasizing that agricultural issues transcend Punjab and affect farmers nationwide.
The Congress party’s candidate for 2023 Jalandhar by election Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary, Nakodar constituency in charge Dr Navjot Singh Dahiya, Kartarpur in charge Rajinder Singh, zila parishad members, block presidents, sarpanches and panches were present on the occasion.