DW BUREAU / chandigarh Extending their full support to Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on the issue of the anti-farmer Ordinances passed by the Centre, all the major political parties of Punjab, barring the BJP, on Wednesday resolved to appeal to the Centre to immediately withdraw the same in public interest, and not to tinker with the MSP regime. While the BJP completely opposed the resolution, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), while initially expressing their reservations on the same, eventually decided to partially endorse it, choosing to go with the other parties in resolving "that existing assured purchase under MSP regime and the State APMCs should not be tinkered with in any manner." SAD also decided to support the decision of all parties to take a delegation to meet the Prime Minister and Union Agriculture Minister on the issue. The resolution reads that "a delegation of representatives of all political parties led by the State Chief Minister would meet the Prime Minister and Union Agriculture Minister to convey their strong reservations on these anti-farmer legislations and urge them to immediately withdraw these in public interest." It further stated that that "Agriculture" and "Markets" are 'State Subjects" under the Seventh Schedule and the present Ordinances are against the spirit of Cooperative Federalism enshrined in the Constitution. Accordingly, the Union Government is urged to immediately review and withdraw these Ordnances." However, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the party would like a legal opinion before terming the Ordinances as against the spirit of cooperative federalism.The resolution was passed after a marathon nearly 5-hour long Video Conference meeting convened by the Chief Minister, who made it clear that he would stand with the farmers and people of Punjab, as he had done on the issue of water sharing, when he had gone against his own party to abrogate all water sharing agreements of the state. The Centre has no right to interfere in the matter of Agriculture, said Captain Amarinder, urging all parties to stand with his government on this issue in the interest of the state and its people, particularly the farmers. Pointing out that the Centre had come out with these Ordinances without waiting for the report of the Committee formed under Maharashtra Chief Minister to assess all aspects of the issue, the Chief Minister urged SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal "to go by your heart and not let politics rule your decision." Captain Amarinder's appeal to Sukhbir came after the latter initially opposed the Resolution, arguing that there was nothing wrong in the Ordinances. Describing the Ordinances as pro-farmer and aimed at encouraging competition, Sukhbir initially rejected the suggestion that the move was a precursor to ending the MSP system, pointing out that it was not written anywhere. The Chief Minister, however, was quick to point out that written or note, the aim was clear, and the Ordinances had to be seen in the context of the developments of the past six years. (editor@dailyworld.in)