CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led an eight-party initiative on Friday, demanding Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar’s assertion in Parliament that the government did not have any record of farmer deaths during the ongoing agitations.
A representation was submitted to the Speaker by MPs representing SAD, BSP, NCP, CPI, CPI-M, RLP, J&K National Conference and Shiv Sena. Former minister and MP from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal requested representatives of all Opposition parties, including Congress, to join the delegation of MPs meeting the President on Saturday to demand his intervention.
Harsimrat said the MPs pointed out that the agriculture minister had committed a serious lapse by stating the government did not have any record of farmer deaths. “This amounts to whitewashing the sacrifice of the ‘annadaata’ who have been agitating against the three black agricultural laws.” She claimed there was proof of 537 farmers dying.
The MPs said the minister should apologise to the farming community and the Speaker should form a JPC to gather details of the number of lives lost and suggest ways of rehabilitating their families.
The MPs also brought it to the Speaker’s notice that the minister had gone on record saying no study had been conducted to understand the apprehensions of the farmers regarding the farm laws. “This is self admission that steps were not taken to take feedback from farmers,’’ Harsimrat said.
The MPs also told the Speaker that the government was refusing to either acknowledge or resolve the grievances of farmers. “In fact, attempts are made to defame the farmers and their democratic right to protest by name calling”. The MPs said the JPC could also go into this aspect and suggest ways to ensure the voice of the farmers is heard in Parliament.