Urged him to resume talks with farmers: Punjab CM after meeting PM

New Delhi: Charanjit Singh Channi in his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today after becoming Punjab Chief Minister asked the centre to withdraw the three controversial farm laws, against which thousands of farmers - mostly from Punjab and Haryana - have been protesting for nearly a year.

Mr Channi, who replaced Captain Amarinder Singh, also requested the Prime Minister to withdraw the centre's decision to postpone paddy procurement in the largely agricultural state from today.

"Agriculture is our main source of income. I have asked the Prime Minister to help find a solution to the deadlock with farmers, who are protesting against the three controversial farm laws," Mr Channi told reporters after the meeting.

Mr Channi had on Thursday asked the centre to withdraw its letter on changing the date to start paddy procurement from October 1 to 11.

The centre's move to postpone procurement of kharif paddy in Punjab and Haryana till October 11 came after crop maturity got delayed owing to recent heavy rain. Crop procurement is undertaken by the central government's agency, Food Corporation of India, along with state agencies.

Mr Channi is also likely to meet senior Congress leaders during his visit to Delhi amid the crisis in the Punjab Congress that started with Amarinder Singh's resignation and state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu quitting from the post.

A Congress coordination panel will be set up for consultations before any major decision is taken by the Punjab government, news agency PTI reported.

The decision to form the panel was reached on Thursday after an over two-hour meeting at the Punjab Congress Bhavan between Mr Channi and Mr Sidhu. The panel will have these two leaders and a representative of the All India Congress Committee.