13 hrs ago
Punjab CM Mann Calls Himself Farmers’ Friendly Insect at PAU
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spoke to farmers at a large farming event.
He jokingly called himself their “friendly insect.”
He said farmers were still trying to get rid of him with insecticides.
He meant that farmers often criticize or protest against his government.
Mann asked farmer leaders not to organize protests so frequently.
He said they should request a meeting with him first.
He also said he was ready to support farmers’ justified demands.
This was described as his last address at the event before the current government’s term ends.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called himself farmers’ “mittar keeda,” or friendly insect, at the PAU Kisan Mela.
Mann said farmers keep trying to kill him with insecticides, using the remark metaphorically.
He urged farmer leaders to hold fewer dharnas and seek meetings before launching protests.
Mann said he was always available to meet farmers and support their justified demands.
The two-day Kisan Mela was held on September 18 and 19, before Punjab’s expected February 2027 polls.
- Who
- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and farmers, including farmer-union leaders.
- What
- Mann addressed farmers, called himself their “friendly insect,” and urged them to hold fewer dharnas.
- Where
- Punjab Agricultural University’s Kisan Mela.
- When
- Friday; the two-day Kisan Mela was held on September 18 and 19.
- Why
- Mann said farmers should seek meetings with him before protesting and said he was ready to support justified demands.
Reduce Protests
Continue Pressuring Government
How farmers should raise demands
Reduce Protests
Mann urged farmer leaders to ask for a meeting first and refrain from holding dharnas so often.
Continue Pressuring Government
Farmer leaders have held dharnas and, according to Mann, sought meetings with him at the end of protests.
Relationship with farmers
Reduce Protests
Mann said he was always available to meet farmers and ready to stand for their justified demands.
Continue Pressuring Government
The repeated protests indicate that farmer leaders continue using demonstrations to press their demands before or alongside seeking government meetings.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann
- Event
- Punjab Agricultural University Kisan Mela
- Event duration
- Two days, September 18 and 19
- Main remark
- Mann described himself as farmers’ “mittar keeda,” or friendly insect
- Appeal to farmers
- Hold fewer dharnas and request meetings before protesting
- Political timeline
- Punjab is expected to go to polls in February 2027
- Event significance
- The article described this as Mann’s last address at the event before the AAP government’s tenure ends
Quotes
Bhagwant Mann
Chief Minister of Punjab addressing farmers at the PAU Kisan Mela
“Some Kisan Union leaders must also be sitting here. Please refrain from holding dharnas so often. At the end of every protest, you demand a meeting with me… why not ask for a meeting first? I am always here to meet you. I am always there to stand for justified demands of farmers.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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