Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 21

Former senior IAS officers of Punjab have extended their support to the agitation by farmers, and appealed to the Centre to withdraw the three agriculture laws.

In a meeting held today, at least 18 former IAS officers, including former Chief Secretaries, discussed the impact of the farm laws. They praised the unity maintained by the farm unions and the peaceful protest being organised at the borders of Delhi.

The retired officers also paid their homage to the 38 farmers who lost their lives during the protest and urged the Punjab Government to grant monetary compensation to the families of the victims. They also expressed their concern that in the event of withdrawal of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and government purchase of foodgrains, as is feared after the enactment of the laws, the already debt-stressed farming sector would be pushed to economic decline.

Those present in the meeting included Swaran Singh Boparai, MS Chahal, Ramesh Inder Singh, KS Sidhu, JR Kundal, Kulbir Singh Sidhu, Iqbal Singh Sidhu, TR Singal, Kulbir Singh, SK Sandhu, SR Ladhar, JK Singh, Shivdular Singh Dhillon, Karamjit Singh Sra and Harkesh Singh Sidhu.