COURTESY HT FEB 10

Ex-bureaucrats, veterans slam PM Modi’s ‘parasite’ remark

Retired IAS officer and ex-Punjabi University V-C Swaran Singh Boparai (centre, black turban) with others in Chandigarh. HT
HT Correspondent

letterschd@hindustantimes.com

CHANDIGARH : Retired IAS and IPS officers as well as defence veterans on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in the Rajya Sabha referring to the protesting farmers as ‘parjeevis’ (parasites).

Nearly 60 former officers observed two-minute silence in memory of the farmers who died during the protests at the Delhi borders since November 26 demanding repeal of the Centre’s three contentious agriculture laws.

“Please do not abuse the farmers by calling them parasites,” said Swaran Singh Boparai, a retired IAS officer and former Punjabi University vice-chancellor. The resolution also sought early solution to the farmers’ demands and appealed to the protestors to remain peaceful.

Former Punjab chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh said the resolution would be brought into public domain in form of an open document.

Among those present were former Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission chairman DS Bains, former principal secretary GPS Shahi besides SR Ladhar, Kulbir Singh Sidhu, Harkesh Singh Sidhu, MPS Aulakh and Brig (retd) Harwant Singh.

The retired officers were unanimous that in countries where are such laws have been implemented farmers are given bigger subsidies than what is offered in India.

“As suggested by the farm union leaders we will build public opinion in favour of the protesting farmers,” Swaran Singh Boparai added.