Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed on Wednesday that the BJP-led Central government was unhappy with him for not allowing nine stadiums to be used as makeshift jails for farmers protesting against the agri-marketing laws.
Addressing a press briefing, Kejriwal also hit out at his counterpart in Punjab, Capt. Amarinder Singh, alleging that he was speaking “BJP’s language” by accusing him of ‘passing’ the three farm laws in Delhi.
“Captain sahab you are levelling allegations against me and speaking BJP's language. Is it the pressure of ED cases on your family members and the notices being sent,” he questioned.
Recently, the AAP government had denied permission to the Delhi Police to use stadiums as a temporary jail to detain farmers.
"The Centre had the plan of putting the farmers into jails as soon as they reached Delhi, but we refused to convert the nine stadiums into jails. The Centre is very upset with me for this," he said.
“The three farm laws were implemented across the country with the signature of the president and no state can stop them,” Kejriwal added.
“If the implementation of the laws depended on the states, why would the farmers from across the nation reach Delhi to talk to the Centre and put their demands forward? They would have put their demands in front of their chief ministers,” he argued.
The chief minister urged the Centre to immediately fulfill the farmers’ demand.
The Delhi government has notified the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, one of three farm laws of the Centre.
“The Punjab CM accused me of passing the three black laws. How can he do such lowly politics at such a crucial time,” Kejriwal complained.
“Captain sahab had many chances to stop the farm bills. Why did he not act against these bills being a member of the central government's committee formulating and deliberating on these bills,” he asked.
“Is this Captain sahab's friendship with the BJP or is he under pressure, because of which he is making false allegations against me,” he further questioned.
The Delhi CM’s remarks follow Singh’s allegations that the Kejriwal government had implemented a farm law in the “midst of a crisis” while pretending to be in solidarity with the farmers.
The AAP leader claimed that he was under huge pressure to convert the stadiums into jails, but he listened to his conscience.
“I want to ask Captain sahab, are you under the pressure of these very same people because of which you are making these false allegations against me, abusing me. I know that the reason may be your family is charged with cases and receiving notices from the ED,” he added.
The Delhi chief minister expressed anguish over protesting farmers being called "terrorists and anti-national" by some people.
“I cannot imagine what the soldiers on the border must be going through, whose parents are being called terrorists. We all have to decide - whether we are with the farmers, or whether we are with the people who are calling these farmers terrorists,” he said.
“No patriot can sleep peacefully after witnessing all this. This is not only farmers' fight, this is everyone's fight. The two meals that we eat in a day, are the result of our farmers' hard work in the fields. We all have to support our farmers in this fight,” he added.
