Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday described the ongoing protest by farmers as a sign of their desperation in the face of the wrongs being perpetrated on them by the Central government.

Speaking to reporters at the Haryana Raj Bhawan after the swearing-in of Krishna Murari as the new Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Amarinder said the farming community in the country was in the grip of a serious crisis due to the indifferent attitude of the BJP-led Central government.

The government had failed to provide any succour to the beleaguered farmers, who were unable to make both ends meet due to its antagonistic policies, said the CM, adding that despite repeated pleas by Punjab and other state governments, the Centre had failed to come to the rescue of the farming community.

Farmers were committing suicide due to their mounting debt burdens as agriculture was no longer financially viable for them in view of the inadequate minimum support price (MSP), the CM said, reiterating that in toto implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report was the only impactful and long-term solution to the agrarian crisis in the country.

The ongoing farmers strike entered the second day on Saturday. The strike, declared by the All India Kisan Mahasangh, is being staged in Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh among other states. It is likely to affect the supply of milk, fruits and vegetables in cities and towns.

Farmers are demanding a complete loan waiver in the agriculture sector and the implementation of recommendations made by the MS Swaminathan Committee.

Meanwhile, asked about the possibility of a poll alliance between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in view of the ensuing 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Amarinder said the decision rests with the Congress high command, which will consider the matter as and when the need arises.

The Punjab Congress leadership would give its opinion in the matter to the party high command as and when the same was sought by the latter, he added.

The CM welcomed the appointment of Krishna Murari as the new CJI, saying that, as an eminent jurist, he would bring the wealth of his experience to the judicial systems of both Punjab and Haryana.

Murari was earlier sworn in by Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki in the presence of Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar.