JALANDHAR: Punjab sports and education minister Pargat Singh has alleged that decision to delay procurement of paddy is the result of a conspiracy between BJP and former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who is set to launch a new party with the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He has claimed that Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) is also part of the conspiracy.
“The letter to delay procurement was taken a day after Amarinder called on Amit Shah. It is a clear bid to harass farmers of Punjab and by implication also to create trouble for Punjab government,” he said on Saturday, after a group of farm union members started a protest demanding beginning of procurement when he was at Circuit House.
“There is also a possibility of a drama by Amarinder by taking up the issue and the central government starting procurement so that he can claim credit while launching his party,” Pargat said while speaking to TOI.
“The cat is out of the bag now. Amarinder has proved he was actually working as a BJP CM while sitting in Congress. We have already been saying that he was colluding with the union government and his recent actions have proven it,” Pargat said.
“Earlier too, BJP, Badals and Amarinder were colluding and the same pack is working now to harass farmers of Punjab for their vested political interests,” he alleged.
It is learnt that the farmers’ group initially came for submitting a memorandum to Pargat Singh. However, after he met them and said that the Punjab government had already taken up the issue with the Union government, the group sat there and also closed the gates of the Circuit House, blocking Pargat to move out.