NEW DELHI: The Charanjit Singh Channi-led Punjab government on Monday started giving jobs to the next of kin of farmers who had lost their lives during the course of the anti-farm bills protest.
The move, which comes at a time when the contest for the upcoming state polls is heating up, comes days after the Punjab government announced that it will provide financial support to those who were arrested in Delhi, allegedly for violence on Independence Day.
The move also comes when the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the body representing farmers, is demanding compensation for the families of those who lost their lives during the protests.
In a tweet, the chief minister’s office announced that the state government had decided to provide jobs to the families of those who died during the protests.

According to the tweet, Channi said that “farmers agitation against three black laws will be ever remembered as a watershed movement to protect the democratic and human rights in the country”.
State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu was also present on the occasion.
According to a statement that accompanying the tweet, Channi said there is hardly any reason to rejoice since Punjab had lost more than 700 sons and daughters during the struggle.
In another tweet, the Punjab Congress showed one of its MLAs handing appointment letter to another affected family.

“MLA Raminder Awla handed over a job appointment letter to Rajinder Kumar of Mahmu Joya village, son of Kashmir Lal ji, a farmer who was martyred at Delhi Tikri Border and expressed solidarity with the family,” the state Congress said in a tweet.
The development comes also comes at a time when the electoral race is heating up in the northern state. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday that Rs 1,000 per month will be transferred into the accounts of all women in Punjab if his party AAP is voted to power in the 2022 assembly polls.
“Today I want to make an announcement. Aam Aadmi Party will form the government in Punjab. We will transfer Rs 1,000 every month into the accounts of every woman who is more than 18 years old in the state,” he said, adding to the list of freebies promised by him.
Congeess leaders, however, termed it an electoral gimmick.

“Kejriwal promising 1000/month to 1cr ladies.. approx 1000 Crores. This is a Lollipop by AAP to fool Punjabis. Punjabis arent a charity case that dilliwala can lure with Rs.1000. Talk about employment & education,” party leader Ravneet Singh Bittu said.