Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh engaged over a social media spat over the continuing farmers’ protest against the three recently-enacted agriculture-related laws.
The war of words between the 2 leaders began after Singh, addressing a news conference at Chandigarh on Sunday, described as ‘theatrics’ Kejriwal’s announcement earlier during that day that he will observe a one-day fast on Monday in support of the protesting farmers.
Responding to Singh’s comments, Kejriwal accused him of getting ‘done a influence the Centre to save your son from ED (Enforcement Directorate)’.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 14, 2020
‘I have been with the farmers since the beginning. I didn’t let Delhi’s stadiums being became jails. I fought with the middle . i’m serving the farmers by becoming their sewadaar. you have done a affect the Centre to save your son from the ED. You disowned the farmers’ movement. Why?” Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi, attaching a news story on Singh’s statement.
Singh responded to the tweet by saying that he is not cowed down by the ED or other cases, and accused Kejriwal of ‘selling his soul for political purposes’.
Just as every Punjabi knows, i’m not one to be cowed down by ED or other cases, you Mr @ArvindKejriwal will even sell your soul if it serves your political purposes. If you think that farmers are getting to be taken in by your dramatics then you’re totally mistaken.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) December 14, 2020
Farmers of India and particularly Punjab know that you Mr @ArvindKejriwal have sold off the interest of farmers by notifying one among the draconian farm bills in Delhi on 23rd November. What pressure did the Centre wear you?
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) December 14, 2020
In response, Kejriwal accused Singh of being a part of the committee which drafted the three bills that were passed into the laws.
U were a part of the committee which drafted these Bills. These Bills are YOUR “gift” to the nation.
Captain sahib, why do BJP leaders never accuse u of double standards the way they accuse all other leaders? https://t.co/dGxeYksrVY
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 14, 2020
In response to this, Singh said these farm laws weren’t discussed at any meeting.
These farm laws weren’t discussed at any meeting & your repeated lies won’t change that Mr @ArvindKejriwal. And naturally BJP can’t accuse me of double standards as I don’t have any nexus with them such as you have. They after all have to cover up their collusion with you! https://t.co/R7Diu8jrzN
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) December 14, 2020
Kejriwal said it’s a matter of record that Singh’s committee drafted these laws.
Its a part of record that ur committee drafted these laws. YOU had the facility to stop these laws, tell the people of this country that such laws were being contemplated by the centre. Why did u go along wid the centre? https://t.co/A75LiCHOIW
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 14, 2020
The three farm laws that were enacted in September have been projected by the Centre as major reforms within the agriculture sector which will remove the middlemen and permit farmers to sell anywhere within the country.
However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of minimum support price (MSP) and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.