Commuters heaved a sigh of relief after blockades on the highways, including the Ambala-Chandigarh National Highway, criss-crossing through Punjab, were lifted by protesting farmers at 3 pm on Friday.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) had announced a statewide four-hour blockade against the tardy procurement of paddy in mandis across the state.
Inter-state and inter-district roads were blocked by several farmer unions from 11 am to 3 pm.
The call for the protest was given by the SKM in their meeting held at Ludhiana on Wednesday, four days after their ultimatum given to the Punjab government to resolve the issues and ensure that farmers’ produce was bought expeditiously.
Last week, they had staged a protest in Chandigarh. But after being called for a meeting by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on October 19, they had postponed their protest by four days.
Protest in Ludhiana
October 25, 2024 1:55 pm
In Ludhiana, farmers staged dharnas on roads at several places, including Samrala, Khanna, Doraha, Machhiwara, Jagraon, Mullanpur and Raikot. SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said, "Both the AAP government of Punjab and the BJP-led central government are equally responsible for this mess". He said they should not play the blame game at the cost of farmers and the economy of the state. They must rise to the occasion and perform their duties honestly in the interest of the farmers and the country, he added.
Protest in Kapurthala
October 25, 2024 1:42 pm
In Kapurthala, agitating farmers blocked traffic on the Jalandhar-Amritsar national highway at Hamira, at Dhilwan Toll plaza, Kapurthala-Goindwal road near village Mundi Maur and Kapurthala-Sultanpurlodhi road near New grain market. While staging dharnas in the middle of the road to express their anger against the slow purchase and lifting of the Kharif crop, they alleged that farmers were being fleeced by private traders by offering them less than the minimum support price rates. Punjab Kisan Union (Baghi) state general secretary Gurdeep Singh claimed their protest was going on at many places in Kapurthala.
Amarinder assures farmers of support
October 25, 2024 12:39 pm
Capt Amarinder statement: "Visited Khanna Dana Mandi today and met with our hardworking farmers, arhtiyas and labourers. Unfortunately they are facing hurdles due a tardy job of procurement planning by AAP Punjab govt. I have assured the farmers and Arthiyas that I will urge the central government to intervene to ensure a smoother procurement."
Truck driver rests as road blocked in Lalru
October 25, 2024 12:26 pm
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A driver rests in his truck while farmers block Ambala-Chandigarh Highway at Lalru Mandi ITI Chowk in Mohali. Photo: Ravi Kumar
Capt speaks with distressed farmers in Khanna
October 25, 2024 12:09 pm
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Capt Amarinder Singh interacts with distressed farmers at Asia's largest grain market in Khanna near Ludhiana on Friday
Farmers block Ambala-Chandigarh Highway in Lalru
October 25, 2024 11:48 am
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38.41 lakh metric tonnes paddy in markets
October 25, 2024 11:29 am
38.41 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) paddy has arrived in markets of Punjab with daily arrival of 4.88 LMT, state Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said. The total lifting has been 10.25 LMT and the daily figure is touching the 2 LMT mark, he said, adding that more than Rs 5,600 crore has been credited into the accounts of the farmers. In the previous year, when the arrival was 38 LMT, the lifting figure touched around the 10 LMT mark with daily lifting coming around to 1.34 LMT. The payments then were pegged at a mere Rs 5,066 crore
Amarinder skips visit to Moti Bagh Palace
October 25, 2024 11:10 am
Former CM Amarinder Singh has returned to his farm house in Siswan near Mohali skipping a tentative visit to Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala. Singh was supposed to visit other places as well but he was told about the scheduled farmer protest and possible traffic hiccups due to which all other meetings were cancelled, says a BJP leader accompanying him. Activists of farmer union BKU Ekta Ugrahan is staging protest outside his residence in Patiala for past eight days.
Chakka jams
October 25, 2024 11:10 am
Farmers accused the AAP government in Punjab and the BJP-led Union government for pushing the state into an agrarian crisis by delaying paddy procurement. Another farmer outfit, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, led by Sarwan Singh Pandher, has already announced that farmers will resort to a road blockade for an indefinite period from October 26 to protest against the “tardy” paddy procurement. Pandher said the “chakka jam” would be held at one place each in Sangrur and Moga districts and at Phagwara and Batala towns.
GT Road Blockade by BKU/Doaba at Sugar Mill Chowk Phagwara.
October 25, 2024 11:02 am
GT Road Blockade by BKU/Doaba at Sugar Mill Chowk Phagwara. The stage for the day has not started yet. Currently 08/10 activists of BKU/Doaba are present at the dharna site under the leadership of Santokh Singh Lakhpur, a senior leader of BKU in Doaba. Traffic from Ludhiana-Jalandhar side is plying via service lane. Traffic from Jalandhar-Ludhiana side is plying at a slow pace via-GT Road.
