Capt Amarinder Singh: ‘PM Modi wants farm stir resolution soon… Farmers must understand this has to be within national perspective’

Senior Punjab BJP leader and ex-chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi Monday and discussed various matters, including the current farmers’ agitation, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, and the question of the BJP’s realliance with former ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). In an interview with The Indian Express, Amarinder spoke on a range of these issues. Excerpts:

I went to meet the Prime Minister as we had not met for a long time. He and I were the chief ministers of Gujarat and Punjab (respectively) at the same time (2002-2007). Later, when I became the chief minister for the second time (in 2017), he was the Prime Minister. Also, there is this burning issue of farmers’ agitation. I wanted to discuss that with him. It was a good meeting, where we discussed a number of issues.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre is trying to find a solution to the farmers’ agitation. The Prime Minister is very sympathetic to the farmers’ issues. He wants a resolution to the issue (farm stir) soon.

I gave my views to the PM on the issue. I can say that everyone in the Union government is sympathetic towards the farmers. But the farmers must also understand that this has to be within the national perspective. If you want MSP for all crops and all farmers, you must also realise that half of India is growing wheat and rice. Then they will get MSP for wheat and rice. It will not benefit Punjab farmers as a whole. They must consider this.

When I was the CM, I dealt with the issue. I allowed them (farmers) to move to Delhi. But then there was violence. The Red Fort episode took place. The farmers should now stay put where they are and their representatives can go and meet the Union government’s